Australian Open 2023: Coco Gauff races past Katerina Siniakova, will play Emma Raducanu in second round

Updated 16/01/2023 at 03:17 GMT

Coco Gauff has cruised into the second round of the 2023 Australian Open as she bids to win her first Grand Slam title. Gauff won the third title of her career in New Zealand earlier this month and the 2022 French Open finalist has followed up with a polished first round display against world No. 46 Katerina Siniakova, who she lost to in the Billie Jean King Cup finals in November.

Highlights: Gauff beats Siniakova to set up Raducanu meeting in second round

Coco Gauff has cruised into the second round of the Australian Open after a comfortable 6-1 6-4 win over Czech Republic's Katerina Siniakova.

The American needed one hour and 16 minutes to wrap up the win as her 2023 gets off to the perfect start having won the ASB Classic title in Auckland last weekend.

The world No. 7 went out of the first round in Melbourne to Wang Qiang last year, but the American made no mistake this year with a confident performance on Rod Laver Arena.

WTA Madrid

'Tired' Raducanu 'trying to manage energy levels' ahead of Madrid Open

23/04/2024 at 23:06

For Siniakova, it was her eighth singles first round exit in 10 appearances at the Australian Open.

Gauff, who is yet to drop a set in 2023, will play Great Britain's Emma Raducanu in their first ever meeting in the next round on Wednesday. Raducanu beat Tamara Korpatsch in straight sets on 1573 Arena.

Asked after the match how she was able to recover from 4-2 down in the second set, Gauff responded: "I just knew the pressure was on her, I won the first set so she had to win the set to stay in the match.

"I had opportunities to break that set and I broke a lot in the first set. I knew when my time would come I would be able to execute."

Siniakova had no answer to Gauff's relentless aggression from the baseline in the opening set and was broken in just the fourth game.

Gauff won 87 per cent of shots on her first serve and sealed the opening set in only 23 minutes.

Siniakova showed greater fight in the second set and went a break up to take a 4-2 lead, converting her first break point of the match when Gauff hit a forehand at the net long.

But Gauff broke back in the very next game with a forehand volley at the net.

At 4-4 Gauff made her move, coming from 40-30 down to win three points in a row and move within a game of the second round.

Gauff squandered three match points on her serve before having to save two break points from Siniakova.

The 18-year-old overcooked a backhand to squander her fourth match point before whipping a fifth into the net again off her backhand. On her sixth go she was the victim of a passing shot.

Another Siniakova break point was wasted before Gauff wrapped up the win on her seventh match point with a backhand winner at the net.

- - -

Stream the 2023 Australian Open live on discovery+, the Eurosport app and at eurosport.co.uk. Play our Australian Open Predictor Game - choose your bracket for the men's and women's draws in Melbourne.

WTA Madrid

When is Raducanu playing first match in Madrid as she 'racks up confidence'?

23/04/2024 at 22:54

Tennis

Madrid Open: Are Nadal, Djokovic, Alcaraz and Raducanu playing?

24/04/2024 at 08:40

WTA Stuttgart

'She has the game' - Swiatek ends Raducanu run in Stuttgart, Sabalenka and Gauff stunned

19/04/2024 at 21:56

Join 3M+ users on app

Stay up to date with the latest news, results and live sports

Download

Scan me