Coco Gauff began her quest for her first Australian Open title in style as Amanda Anisimova reached the second round but Brit Fran Jones retired through injury.
Gauff, a two-time Grand Slam champion, advanced to the second round with a 6-2 6-3 win over Kamilla Rakhimova on Monday.
Meanwhile, a sobbing Fran Jones missed his first round match due to injury.
Third seed Gauff faltered her serve at times and broke in the second set against her Uzbek opponent as she attempted to close the match at 5-2.
But Rakhimova gave up two match points on serve in the very next game and gave up the contest with a backhand over the baseline.
French Open champion Gauff, a Melbourne Park semi-finalist and last year’s quarter-finalist, is seeking a third Grand Slam title.
Gauff struggled with double faults last season and hit six more in the first set here.
But she dismissed concerns, saying, “It was only the first set. There was only one double in the second set.”
“We were both struggling on the other side. The sun is right there. We had three doubles in the first game, and after that game it was pretty much smooth sailing from there.”
Next time she will meet a lefty Olga DanilovichHe knocked out Venus Williams on day one to advance to the third round.
Former champion Sofia Kenin was knocked out by her fellow American. Payton Stearns 6-3 6-2, 6th seed Jessica Pegula It took just 66 minutes to beat Anastasia Zakharova 6-2 6-1.
fourth seed Amanda Anisimova She won 6-3, 6-2 against Simona Waltert of Switzerland in exactly one hour.
Anisimova, who advanced to the finals at Wimbledon and the US Open last year, is aiming to win her first Grand Slam title.
A cruel blow to Britain’s third-ranked Jones.
Fran Jones missed the first round of the Australian Open due to injury.
Hope Jones, British Retired 6-2 3-2 by the Czech-born Polish player. Linda Klimovicova.
The 25-year-old arrived at Melbourne Park unsure whether he would be fit enough to play after suffering a groin problem in his right leg during a tournament in Auckland earlier this month.
From the start of her clash with Polish qualifier Linda Klimovicova, it was clear that Jones was struggling with her movements, and after dropping serve in the second set, she decided she could no longer continue.
Jones sought treatment at the end of the first set and told her coaching team that it was a glute muscle issue, not a groin issue, that was hindering her movement.
It was a cruel blow to the 25-year-old Jones, who arrived in Melbourne at a career-high ranking of 69 after her best win over top-20 player Emma Navarro in Auckland. This is the first time she has qualified directly for a Grand Slam without a wildcard.
So it was easy to understand the Yorkshire woman’s frustration at being slammed into the courtside barrier and screaming loudly.
Jones was struggling with his movement and, after dropping serve, decided he could no longer continue.
As she lay back down for treatment after the fifth game of the second set, she buried her head in her arms and Jones’ sobbing could be heard all over the court.
As Klimovicova waited to be served, a red-eyed Jones sat in her chair and signaled that she could no longer continue.
Consistency is the next major goal for Jones. Physical problems are associated with the hereditary exocytosis ectodermal dysplasia. That means they have three fingers, a thumb on each hand, and seven toes.
australia qualifier Storm Hunter She advanced to the second round by defeating Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-4 6-4.
Watch the ATP and WTA Tour live on Sky Sports or stream with the NOW and Sky Sports apps, giving Sky Sports customers access to over 50% more live sport at no additional cost this year. Find out more here.
