Gauff Looks to Advance at Australian Open After Strong 2025 Season
World No. 3 Coco Gauff took to Rod Laver Arena on Monday to begin her 2026 Australian Open campaign against 91st-ranked Kamilla Rakhimova, seeking to build on the momentum of a breakthrough 2025 season that saw her capture major titles and reach career-high rankings.
The American comes to Melbourne fresh off a strong finish to 2025, which included victories at Roland Garros and Wuhan, along with a historic WTA Finals championship in Riyadh—an event that awarded her a record $4.8 million in prize money. That triumph elevated her to World No. 2 at her career high during the summer before settling at her current ranking.
Building on Past Success
Gauff has been a consistent threat at the Australian Open in recent years, reaching the semifinals in 2024 and the quarterfinals in 2025. The 21-year-old defeated Rakhimova in their only prior meeting last fall in Beijing with a commanding 6-4, 6-0 victory, giving her confidence heading into their first-round matchup.
However, Gauff began 2026 with an early loss to Marta Kostyuk in Brisbane, making this Australian Open opener a chance to reset and reassert herself on the international stage. The record crowds flooding Melbourne Park for the 114th edition of the tournament underscored the excitement surrounding the event and players like Gauff who are central to women’s tennis.
Day 2 Action at Melbourne Park
Gauff’s match was part of a loaded Day 2 lineup that featured several marquee names making their tournament debuts, including 10-time champion Novak Djokovic and Filipino sensation Alexandra Eala. The early-season event has already delivered compelling matchups, with American Michael Zheng pulling off an upset victory over countryman Sebastian Korda on Sunday.
With her experience, ranking, and recent championship pedigree, Gauff represents a formidable challenge for any opponent in the early rounds as she pursues another deep run in Melbourne.
