Coco Gauff and Alexandra Eala made strong starts to their US Open 2026 campaigns on Tuesday, with both players producing confident straight-sets victories at Flushing Meadows. Gauff defeated Turkey’s Zeynep Sonmez 6-3, 6-4 on Arthur Ashe Stadium, while No. 17 seed Eala swept aside American qualifier Mary Stoiana 6-1, 6-2 at Louis Armstrong Stadium.
For Gauff, the victory marked the beginning of another title bid in New York, where she lifted her maiden Grand Slam trophy in 2023. Eala, meanwhile, continued her impressive hard-court form by reaching the second round for the second consecutive year.
Coco Gauff Begins US Open 2026 Campaign With Confident Win
Coco Gauff made a composed start to her US Open 2026 title bid, overcoming Zeynep Sonmez 6-3, 6-4 under the lights at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The 22-year-old American arrived in New York fresh from winning the Cincinnati Open and is chasing a third Grand Slam title after her breakthrough triumph at Flushing Meadows in 2023.
“I wasn’t that nervous today, which was a shock,” Gauff said on court. “When I walked back out on this court, I was trying to hold back a smile.”
Gauff was in control throughout the opening set. Playing under a closed roof, she secured the only break of serve and wrapped up the opener in just over half an hour.
World No. 53 Sonmez showed flashes of her talent and produced a string of impressive winners, including a blistering backhand that drew applause from the crowd and even Gauff herself.
The Turkish player settled into the second set, immediately breaking back after Gauff had opened with a break. Sonmez then began testing the American with deep groundstrokes and approaches to the net.
Gauff came under pressure at 3-2 but held firm, saving three break points to level the set. The fourth seed then broke Sonmez at 4-3 to regain control.
From there, Gauff pulled away as Sonmez struggled to maintain the level that had briefly unsettled the American.
“I know that I can raise my level if I need to,” Gauff said.
“I like to challenge my opponent to keep up that level the whole match, and if they do, I clap my hands and walk off the court with my head held high. But I was able to settle down.”
Gauff, who has reached the fourth round or better at the US Open in each of the last four years, will face either Daria Kasatkina or Paula Badosa in the second round.
Alexandra Eala Cruises Past Mary Stoiana in Straight Sets
No. 17 seed Alexandra Eala delivered an equally impressive performance at Louis Armstrong Stadium, defeating American qualifier Mary Stoiana 6-1, 6-2 in just 1 hour and 17 minutes.
The victory sends Eala into the US Open second round for the second consecutive year and extends the momentum she has built on hard courts following her breakthrough title run in Washington, D.C.
Eala had to withstand some early pressure, saving two break points in the opening game before quickly taking control. The Filipina then raced to a 5-0 lead and closed out the first set 6-1.
Stoiana, playing in the main draw of a Grand Slam for the first time, fought hard for opportunities but could not make them count. The American qualifier earned six break-point chances during the match but failed to convert any of them.
Eala, by contrast, was clinical when openings came her way, converting four of her eight break-point opportunities.
After the two players traded tight holds early in the second set, Eala found the breakthrough at 3-2. She held her advantage comfortably from there before completing another dominant straight-sets victory.
Eala will now face Ukraine’s Oleksandra Oliynykova in the second round as she looks to continue her impressive run at Flushing Meadows.
(With inputs from Reuters)
