NEW DELHI: Sixth-seeded Coco Gauff beat Laura Siegemund 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 in a tense first-round match at the U.S. Open on Monday. The German was much tougher than anyone expected, and Gauff had to fight back to win.
The U.S. teenager and the crowd at home were shocked when Siegemund, who is ranked 121 in the world, won the first set with a range of shots and some amazing plays at the net.
But Gauff came back quickly in the second game. After a 26-minute first game, when Siegemund started to complain to the chair judge that the serve clock started too soon after points, a break was called.
Gauff broke again to go up 4-1, and the match was evened when her backhand hit the net cord and made Siegemund's shot go off time.
In the third set, the 19-year-old American took control. He jumped out to a 3-0 lead and stopped Siegemund's net drive with some beautiful lobs.
On game point, Siegemund was given a point penalty, which gave Gauff a 5-1 lead. Siegemund didn't agree with this decision, so she told the referee that Gauff was playing "extremely fast" as boos fell on her.
Siegemund wouldn't give up. He broke, and Gauff's three double faults helped him cut the lead to 5-3.
But when Gauff had her second chance to serve out the match, she didn't miss. When Siegemund's backhand hit the net, the nearly three-hour match was over. Gauff screamed and pumped her fist.
Mirra Andreeva, who is 16 years old and from Russia, is up next for Gauff.
