Coco does it again as she stuns Venus to reach second round
COCO GAUFF once again defied the gulf in age and experience to defeat her idol Venus Williams in the first round of a Grand Slam.
Just like at Wimbledon back in July, the 15-year-old saw off seven-time Grand Slam champion Williams in straight sets to reach the Australian Open second round.
Gauff earned a reputation on the grass last summer for her nerveless play but the magnitude of the occasion in Melbourne seemed to get to her when she had set points at 5-3 and again at 5-4.
Williams, 39, forced a tie-break but her fellow American took a commanding lead before winning it 7-5.
That momentum continued into the second set which she won 6-3 after racing into a 3-0 lead.
As at Wimbledon and the US Open, Gauff has become a fan favourite.
Addressing the crowd afterwards, she said: “Thank you guys, you were chanting my name and I only thought that would happen at the US Open.”
Of the match-up against Williams, she added: “I was a bit shocked when I saw the draw but glad I was able to get through it. That was really difficult. She played really well and I was nervous.”
The world No66 next faces Romanian Sorana Cirstea.
Williams’ sister, Serena, kept alive her hopes of a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam singles title with 6-0, 6-3 victory over Anastasia Potapova.
Naomi Osaka, among the players to have denied Williams a 24th title by beating her in the 2018 US Open final, defeated Marie Bouzkova 6-2, 6-4.
Another title contender, Petra Kvitova, finished her match nine minutes shy of the hour mark as fellow Czech Katerina Siniakova won just one game.
Johanna Konta had been due in action on the opening day but heavy rain meant play could happen only on the three courts which had retractable roofs for much of the day. Her match against Ons Jabeur will take place tomorrow.
Fellow Briton Kyle Edmund raced into a 5-2 lead against Dusan Lajovic before that was suspended for the day.