Coco Gauff began her Australian Open with the sort of win that looks routine on paper and revealing up close. A 6–2, 6–3 dismissal of Kamilla Rakhimova sent the world No. 3 safely into round two, even if the familiar tremor in her serve was impossible to ignore.
The third seed arrived in Melbourne with unfinished business after a semifinal run in 2024 and a quarterfinal exit last year. This opener was about control rather than perfection — and while Gauff never truly slipped, she also did little to disguise where sharper opponents will sense opportunity.
A Fast Start, Then a Scrappy Pattern
Gauff broke early and surged to a 3–0 lead, immediately imposing herself on Rakhimova’s second serve. What followed was less serene. Breaks came in clusters, rhythm vanished, and errors flowed freely from both ends of the court.
After 30 minutes, Gauff led 5–1, having rattled off three consecutive breaks. Rakhimova briefly pushed back, converting one of six break chances, but the gap was already wide. Gauff, despite double-faulting her way through the set, finally held cleanly to close it out 6–2.
Gauff vs Rakhimova – Set 1 Stats
| Statistic | Gauff | Rakhimova |
|---|---|---|
| Dominance Ratio | 1.33 | 0.75 |
| Winners | 12 | 9 |
| Unforced Errors | 19 | 19 |
| Serve Rating | 230 | 158 |
| Aces | 0 | 1 |
| Double Faults | 6 | 2 |
| 1st Serve % | 64% (27/42) | 63% (19/30) |
| 1st Serve Points Won | 70% (19/27) | 53% (10/19) |
| 2nd Serve Points Won | 27% (4/15) | 18% (2/11) |
| Break Points Saved | 83% (5/6) | 70% (7/10) |
| Ace % | 0% | 3.3% |
| Double Fault % | 14.3% | 6.7% |
| Return Rating | 234 | 145 |
| 1st Return Points Won | 47% (9/19) | 30% (8/27) |
| 2nd Return Points Won | 82% (9/11) | 73% (11/15) |
| Break Points Won | 30% (3/10) | 17% (1/6) |
| Pressure Points | 50% (8/16) | 50% (8/16) |
| Service Points | 55% (23/42) | 40% (12/30) |
| Return Points | 60% (18/30) | 45% (19/42) |
| Net Points | 75% (3/4) | 20% (1/5) |
| Total Points | 57% (41/72) | 43% (31/72) |
| Max Points In A Row | 6 | 4 |
| Match Points Saved | 0 | 0 |
| Max Games In A Row | 3 | 1 |
| Set 1 Duration | 0h52m | |
Seven double faults, 30 unforced errors, and just 33 percent of points won behind her second serve told a quieter story beneath the scoreline.
Experience Carries Her Through the Second
The second set showed why Gauff rarely loses these matches. When she trimmed the errors, she dictated comfortably off both wings and read Rakhimova’s serve with ease. Five straight games, including back-to-back breaks, pushed her to a commanding 5–2 lead.
There was one wobble. A loose service game, punctuated by a double fault and a backhand miss, allowed Rakhimova to claw back to 5–3. It lasted one game. Gauff broke again, leaning on her return and competitive instincts rather than her serve, and closed the match without drama.
Gauff vs Rakhimova – Set 2 Stats
| Statistic | Gauff | Rakhimova |
|---|---|---|
| Dominance Ratio | 1.49 | 0.67 |
| Winners | 8 | 3 |
| Unforced Errors | 12 | 15 |
| Serve Rating | 254 | 191 |
| Aces | 1 | 0 |
| Double Faults | 1 | 2 |
| 1st Serve % | 68% (15/22) | 63% (22/35) |
| 1st Serve Points Won | 67% (10/15) | 59% (13/22) |
| 2nd Serve Points Won | 44% (4/9) | 31% (4/13) |
| Break Points Saved | 0% (0/1) | 25% (1/4) |
| Ace % | 4.5% | 0% |
| Double Fault % | 4.5% | 5.7% |
| Return Rating | 245 | 214 |
| 1st Return Points Won | 41% (9/22) | 33% (5/15) |
| 2nd Return Points Won | 69% (9/13) | 56% (5/9) |
| Break Points Won | 75% (3/4) | 100% (1/1) |
| Pressure Points | 60% (3/5) | 40% (2/5) |
| Service Points | 64% (14/22) | 46% (16/35) |
| Return Points | 54% (19/35) | 36% (8/22) |
| Net Points | 57% (4/7) | 20% (1/5) |
| Total Points | 58% (33/57) | 42% (24/57) |
| Max Points In A Row | 5 | 3 |
| Match Points Saved | 0 | 0 |
| Max Games In A Row | 5 | 2 |
| Set 2 Duration | 0h48m | |
What It Means Next
It was not a statement performance, but it was a professional one — the kind top seeds bank early in a Slam. Gauff moves on knowing her margin for error will shrink quickly, starting with Serbia’s Olga Danilovic, fresh from a three-set comeback win over Venus Williams.
The draw remains open. The serve remains the question. For now, Gauff is through, and Melbourne will keep watching how loudly that question grows.