Coco Gauff searching for top form as she opens US Open title defense

Coco Gauff isn’t precisely in prime kind as she prepares to turns into the primary girl to win consecutive U.S. Open titles since Serena Williams gained three straight from 2012-14.

The 20-year-old Gauff opens play Monday towards France’s Varvara Gracheva after a hard summer season.

Gauff was despatched dwelling within the fourth spherical of Wimbledon by fellow American Emma Navarro after which misplaced within the third spherical of the Olympics to eventual silver medalist Donna Vekic of Croatia.

Then issues actually went downhill. Gauff was dominated within the third spherical in Toronto by Diana Shnaider of Russia, and she or he adopted up with 9 double faults whereas shedding to Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan within the second spherical (her first match) of the Cincinnati Open, the place she was the reigning champion.

Not precisely the kind of momentum the third-seeded Gauff needs to take right into a Grand Slam occasion.

“I’ll attempt to take the optimistic out of it, and do higher subsequent time,” Gauff mentioned.

Subsequent time is underneath the brilliant lights of New York, the place Gauff will likely be anticipated to match final yr’s efficiency when she beat Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus within the championship match.

It was Gauff’s first profession Grand Slam crown, and tennis aficionados count on much more.

So does Gauff. However she understands she’s nonetheless within the early portion of her profession.

“I’ve time,” Gauff mentioned. “Clearly, I wish to win now as a result of I’m used to successful so early, however I feel I’ve taken a step again and notice I’ve one other 10 years on this sport, so I wish to get pleasure from it.”

Gracheva is ranked 66th on the planet and doesn’t seem to be an upset risk. She misplaced within the first spherical of the previous two U.S. Opens.

Nonetheless, her greatest end in a significant got here earlier this yr when she reached the fourth spherical of the French Open.

Gauff gained the lone assembly with Gracheva in January when she posted a 6-1, 6-1 victory within the quarterfinals in Auckland.

The second-seeded Sabalenka additionally opens Monday as she faces Priscilla Hon of Australia.

Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic, the eighth seed, faces Spain’s Marina Bassols Ribera in her first match.

Prime-seeded Iga Swiatek of Poland opens on Tuesday towards Russian Kamilla Rakhimova. Swiatek was the 2022 U.S. Open champ.