Coco Gauff began her US Open title defense with an impressive 6-2, 6-0 victory over Varvara Gracheva, marking a strong comeback after a challenging summer where she lost four of her last seven matches. The 20-year-old, who won her first Grand Slam title at this tournament last year, emphasized her determination to win again, stating that defending a title signifies previous success. Gauff expressed that she doesn’t feel pressure to prove herself, focusing instead on her internal expectations and the belief in her abilities. She noted that regardless of this year's outcome, she is confident she will win another title in the future. In her opening match, Gauff demonstrated resilience by saving all eight break points she faced, extending her winning streak at the US Open to eight matches. Next, she will compete against Germany's Tatjana Maria in the second round.