By Richard Pagliaro Sunday, January 18, 2026
Image source: Australian Open Facebook
Coco Gough Played a top contortionist in the Australian Open opener.
In the 79th minute of the game, Goff was moving to the left when he suddenly moved to the right and hit a wonderful volley winner.
Body control and confident baseline play help Gauff transcend Kamila Rashimova 6-2, 6-3 and entered the second round of the Australian Open for the sixth time.
“I’ve lost a few first-round games before, but I’ve always been able to get back up, so I’m trying not to put too much pressure on myself in the first round,” Goff told Coco Vandeweghe after the game. “At this moment, I just want to win, so whether I lose the first round or the final, I don’t think I’ll be that satisfied.
“Winning is the only satisfying result, but that doesn’t mean I’m not proud of myself throughout the competition. I think I’m only satisfied if I win. But no matter how I perform in the competition, I’m also proud of myself.”
Third-seeded Gauff should be proud of his more accurate serve as the match progresses. Gauff committed six of seven double faults in the first set.
Overall, Gauff, who led the WTA in double faults last year, hit 63 percent of his serves, won 73 percent of his first-serve points (29 of 40) and saved five of seven break points.
It was a solid start for the defending French Open champion, who patiently countered Rahimova’s moonsaults with some sharper forehand angles and occasionally stepped across the baseline to hit her with an authoritative backhand.
Gauff’s movements were imbued with the explosive fluidity of a woman, designed to propel her shadow across the deep blue Rod Laver Arena court.
Gauff is arguably the fastest woman on the WTA Tour, beating Rahimova and winning most of her runs. Goff charged and led 3-0. The two broke serve alternately in the fourth and fifth games, and then Gauff broke serve again with a bouncing smash to lead 5-1.
On the sixth set point, Gauff hit a service winner on the T stage, ending the 51-minute first set.
The 2024 semifinalist double-faulted six times, but when Gauff served for the first time, she usually dominated the match. Gauff won 19 of 27 first-serve points in the first set (70%).
Gauff brought terror to Rashimova on the second serve. She scored 9 of 11 points on her opponent’s second serve and broke serve 3 times in the first set.
In the third game of the second set, Gauff broke serve and led 3-1.
Gauff extended the lead to 5-1 with an explosive forehand volley and subsequent lob winner.
Although Rashimova used a double fault to tie the score at 3-5, Gauff sealed the victory with her sixth break of serve.
The two-time Grand Slam champion improved her Grand Slam record to 75-23. When Gauff won the first set, she had won 39 consecutive Grand Slam matches.
In a match Monday that featured 20 American players, Gauff advanced in 99 minutes and a pair of American seeds —No. 15 seed Emma Navarro and No. 27 seed Sofia Kenin——Falled at the first obstacle.
2023 AO Semifinalists Magda Lynette Losing only eight points on his first serve, he defeated 2025 quarterfinalist Navarro 3-6, 6-3, 6-3.
In a national opener, Payton Stearns Hit 15 aces on a double fault without losing serve Sofia Kenin 6-3, 6-2.
American player Ang Lee defeated Camila Osorio 6-4, 6-7(5), 7-5 and won her eighth match point. Osorio saved three match points when Li Na served for a 6-4, 7-5 lead. That stand inspired Osorio’s performance in the second set. Li Na won the decider when she made consecutive long service errors.
After regrouping, Li Na held on to a 15-all tie in the deciding set and led 6-5, then gained the eighth match point due to an Osorio error. Li Na will face Linette in the second round.
Payton Stearns D. (27) Sofia Kenin, 6-3, 6-2
In a national first match, Payton Stearns blasted 15 aces, faced a double fault and didn’t lose serve to beat Sofia Kenin 6-3, 6-2.
It was the first Australian Open win of the former Texas Longhorn’s career. On the other side of the Internet, 2020 Australian Open champion Kenin suffered his sixth consecutive Australian Open defeat.
Kenin is 1-6 at Melbourne Park since she defeated Garbine Muguruza in the 2020 AO final.
Stearns looked healthy and attacked with forehand topspin to advance into the AO second round for the first time in three matches in Australia.
“I’ve been serving really well the last two weeks,” Stearns later told ESPN’s Chris Barden. “I feel like it’s there and it showed up today. So I feel like my work paid off.
“You have to accept the pressure and chaos — it’s a lot of pressure — but I think at the end of the day I have a good team around me.”
Stearns, ranked 52nd, will face either Petra Marchenko or Tatjana Maria in the second round.
