Coco Gauff says her TikTok commentary has changed her perspective as she begins her US Open title defense with convincing victory

CNN
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Coco Gauff began her defence of her US Open title with a convincing 6-2 6-0 victory over Varvara Gracheva, needing just one hour and six minutes to reach the second round.

The world No. 3 struggled to find form in the second half of the season, including a recent defeat in her opening match of the Cincinnati Open, where she was defending champion.

On Monday, however, Gauff seemed to come a lot closer to her best performance.

The 20-year-old said a TikTok follower changed her perspective when she entered the US Open as the defending champion.

“Someone commented on my TikTok and said something like, ‘You’ve won in life, literally and figuratively, and there’s no point in putting pressure on yourself during a victory lap.’

“I just treat this tournament like this. If you defend something, it means you’ve won something. If you’ve done it, it means you can do it again. So whether I do it again this year or not, I’m going to do it again, whether it’s 2024 or not – I’m going to do it again.”

Gauff acknowledged that there is “a lot of pressure” leading up to the US Open, but that she can enjoy it now.

“If I had played this last week I feel like it would have been really hard, but my perspective has changed so much in the last seven days,” she added.

“I just tried to enjoy the game. I enjoyed it today and it was obviously straightforward, but even if it was more exciting, these are the moments you live for. I’m just happy to be back on this pitch and playing like I did.

“I know the last few weeks have been a bit tough, but I think this is the best tennis I’ve played in a long time.”

Gauff will face Tatjana Maria in the second round.

Elsewhere, Gauff’s compatriot Taylor Fritz defeated Argentine Camilo Ugo Carabelli 7-5 6-1 6-2. Fritz reached the quarter-finals of the US Open in New York last year, a personal best.