Coco Gauff's 1st match with a new serve coach at the U.S. Open is a struggle but also a win

Coco Gauff’s first match since enlisting someone to help with her shaky serving got off to a rocky start at the U.S.

NEW YORK — Coco Gauff’s first match since enlisting someone to help with her shaky serving got off to a rocky start at the U.S. Open on Tuesday night. She double-faulted in the very first game — and a total of 10 times. She got broken in that game, too — and a total of six times.

The only numbers that truly counted in the end, of course, were the ones on the Arthur Ashe Stadium scoreboard, and those showed that the No. 3-seeded Gauff held on for a 6-4, 6-7 (2), 7-5 victory over Ajla Tomljanovic to reach the second round at Flushing Meadows.

“It wasn’t the best,” Gauff said, “but I’m happy to get through.”

Nothing came easily. Gauff twice led by a break in the second set but couldn’t end things. She went up 5-3 in the third and served for the victory at 5-4, but double-faulted twice in a row and missed a pair of forehands to make it 5-all.

“Staying close also puts her under pressure to serve it out,” Tomljanovic said. “In the first round, even if you’re Coco, it’s never easy.”