American third seed Coco Gauff began her Australian Open campaign in convincing fashion on Monday, moving into the second round with a composed straight-sets victory, as injury brought a premature end to the tournament hopes of Britain’s Fran Jones.
Gauff, bidding for her first Australian Open title, defeated Kamilla Rakhimova 6-2, 6-3 to record the 75th Grand Slam main-draw win of her career. Despite moments of inconsistency on serve, the two-time Grand Slam champion controlled the contest and closed it out in just over an hour.
The 21-year-old was broken while serving for the match in the second set but quickly regrouped as Rakhimova faltered in the following game, surrendering two match points before eventually sending a backhand long to hand Gauff victory. The win also marked Gauff’s 250th career match win at WTA level, making her the youngest player to reach the milestone since Caroline Wozniacki in 2011.
Reflecting on her performance, Gauff played down concerns over her serve, noting that challenging conditions on one side of the court contributed to early double faults. She will face left-hander Olga Danilovic in the second round, with a place in the last 32 at stake.
Elsewhere in the women’s draw, the opening round proved far more distressing for British No. 3 Fran Jones, who was forced to retire from her match against Linda Klimovicova while trailing 6-2, 3-2. Jones, visibly emotional, struggled with her movement throughout and was unable to continue after aggravating a lower-body injury.
The 25-year-old arrived in Melbourne with fitness concerns following a groin problem sustained earlier in the month, and later revealed she had suffered an issue with her glute during the match. Her retirement was a bitter blow, coming at a time when she had reached a career-high ranking and gained direct entry into a Grand Slam main draw for the first time.
Jones admitted after the match that ongoing physical challenges remain a concern and suggested she may seek additional specialist support as she looks to build consistency on tour.
In other results, former champion Sofia Kenin was eliminated by fellow American Peyton Stearns in straight sets, while sixth seed Jessica Pegula cruised past Anastasia Zakharova in just over an hour. Amanda Anisimova also progressed comfortably, dispatching Simona Waltert 6-3, 6-2 as she continues her pursuit of a maiden Grand Slam title.
The opening rounds in Melbourne were further marred by injury concerns, with Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk confirming she had torn a ligament in her left ankle during her first-round loss, bringing an abrupt end to what had been a promising start to her season.
As the Australian Open gathers momentum, Gauff’s assured start offered a statement of intent, while Jones’ setback served as a reminder of the fine margins between progress and disappointment at the sport’s highest level.
