Coco Gauff’s Australian Open campaign is off to a winning, but not entirely smooth, start. The number 3 seed battled through early serving woes to defeat Kamila Rakhimova 6-2, 6-3 in 1 hour and 39 minutes, securing her place in the second round. But beyond the scoreline, Gauff reached a milestone that places her in elite company.

Since 2000, Gauff is now one of four players (Venus Williams, Serena Williams, and Maria Sharapova) aged 21 or younger to win 75+ women’s singles matches at Grand Slams. It is yet another remarkable checkpoint in her rapidly growing legacy.

Coming to her performance in this match, though Coco Gauff dropped just five games to the world number 93, the contest was far more competitive than the scoreboard suggested. Five of the first seven games went to deuce, with Gauff grinding out three of them. The American’s first set was marked by shaky serving - six double faults and a mere 27% success rate behind her second serve.

Addressing her early struggles, Gauff said, “It was just the first set. Only had one double in the second. Both of us were struggling on the far side. The sun is right there. I had three doubles in the first game, and once I got through that game, it was pretty much smooth sailing from there.”

This was Coco Gauff’s second win against Rakhimova (after winning the China Open first-round match by 6-4, 6-0). With this win, she has now not only improved her first-round record at Grand Slam tournaments to 23-4 and secured her 75th overall match win at a major, but she also became the youngest player to claim a 250th career match win at the WTA (since Caroline Wozniacki’s heroics in 2011).

She will next face Serbia’s Olga Danilovic (in the second round), who recently knocked out Venus Williams. But what did Gauff say after this incredible win?

Coco Gauff sends a clear message to her opponents after her first-round win

Coco Gauff didn’t just win her opening match at the Australian Open; she delivered a message. A calm, confident, unmistakable warning shot to the rest of the draw. With her latest victory, the American extended one of the most dominant statistical streaks in women’s tennis. 

Gauff has now won 22 straight matches against opponents ranked outside the Top 50 at the Grand Slam level. Her last such loss? Three years ago, against then-number-128 Sofia Kenin at Wimbledon. 

Widen the lens further, and the numbers paint an even clearer picture: since back-to-back early exits to Sloane Stephens at the 2021 US Open and Wang Qiang at the 2022 AO, Gauff is an extraordinary 35-1 against players ranked outside the Top 50 at the majors. For opponents hoping to catch her off guard early, the message is simple: good luck.

After her win, Coco Gauff was asked what she focuses on to be fully prepared for a first-round match. To this, her reply was, “I think, ‘Well, I lost a couple of first rounds before.’ I’ve always been able to pick it up. I try not to put so much pressure on myself in the first round. I think at this point, I just want to win the tournament. Whether I win the first round or in the finals, I don’t think I’ll be as satisfied. So until then, I’m ok.”

When the interviewer pressed her on why she rated her satisfaction as “just okay,” Gauff elaborated, but without backing down from her ambition. “I said in my press conference that winning is the only satisfying result. But that doesn’t mean I’m not proud of myself throughout the tournament. I think I’ll only be satisfied if I win… but I’m also proud of myself regardless of how I do in the tournament.”

The tone is set. Her intentions are public. And her tennis is tracking in the direction of a genuine title push. But it won’t be easy. Her best record at this tournament was reaching the SF in 2024. Last year, she was knocked out by Paula Badosa in the QF itself. What will happen in 2026?

Written by

Sayantan Roy

Sayantan Roy is a seasoned tennis journalist at EssentiallyTennis. He brings a deep tactical understanding to his coverage, breaking down head-to-head records, match dynamics, and on-court strategies with precision. For more than two years, Sayantan has been a key member of the Live Events desk, delivering real-time insights and data-backed predictions for the platform’s Matchday Preview section. His analytical approach has sparked editorial debates and drawn recognition from respected tennis voices, including commentator and analyst Olly_Tennis. Combining his experience in writing with a passion for insightful sports journalism, Sayantan’s work serves as a trusted reference point for tennis fans around the world.

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