Paris, May 26: Reigning champion Coco Gauff kicked off her French Open campaign with a commanding victory over fellow American Taylor Townsend, winning 6-4, 6-0. This win propels Gauff into the second round at Roland Garros, where she will face Egypt’s Mayar Sherif.
The world number four took just 1 hour and 20 minutes to dispatch Townsend on Court Philippe-Chatrier, marking her seventh consecutive advancement to the second round of the French Open.
While the final score suggests a straightforward match, Gauff faced early challenges. Townsend broke her serve in the very first game, threatening to seize an early lead. The player, who had previously defeated a 15-year-old Gauff in Charleston back in 2019, came out aggressively and had a golden opportunity to extend her lead to 4-1 with a double-break advantage.
However, Townsend faltered on a break point when Gauff’s first serve caught her off guard, allowing the reigning champion to regain her footing in the match. From that moment on, Gauff took complete control.
The current French Open champion won 11 of the last 12 games, and in the second set, Townsend failed to secure a single game. The relentless pressure from the baseline proved too much for Townsend, effectively ending her challenge.
The disparity in skill between the two American players was evident, especially in the second set. After securing an early break, Townsend squandered another chance to break back with a simple backhand shot into an open court, visibly frustrated. Gauff capitalized on this moment, extending her lead further.
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