Coco Gauff’s opening match at the 2025 US Open turned into a battle that reminded her of one of the most iconic nights in tennis history. The 2023 singles champion edged past Ajla Tomljanović 6-4, 6-7 (2), 7-5 in a grueling first-round contest in two hours and 57 minutes.

The American later admitted that she entered the match expecting the latter to deliver the same level of tennis that ended Serena Williams’ legendary career in 2022.
Coco Gauff's win, Serena Williams' loss spark mixed emotions at Australian Open

How Did Serena Williams’ Farewell Match Shape Coco Gauff’s Expectations Against Ajla Tomljanović?

Tomljanović, now more than a decade into her professional career, famously eliminated Williams in the third round of the 2022 US Open in what turned out to be the 23-time Grand Slam champion’s final match.

 

That win cemented the Australian’s reputation as a player who could rise to the occasion when the spotlight burned the brightest. Facing her three years later in the same stadium, Gauff knew she could not afford to underestimate her.

“I told myself before the match she was probably going to play that level again,” Gauff said in her post-match press conference. “I watched that match with Serena [Williams], so I expected that level today.”

The 21-year-old explained how Tomljanović’s steady style and refusal to give away easy points forced her to stay locked in throughout the three-hour contest. “I felt like she was just going to be solid, not going to miss, and take her chances when it was the right decision. And that’s what she did,” Gauff noted.

She also pointed out the stark difference between their first-round Paris Olympics encounter, where the American won in straight sets, and the intensity Tomljanović showed in New York. “I think she does better under the bigger lights. I played her at the Olympics, and it was the complete opposite of a match.”

The stress of the encounter, Gauff added, made the win even more meaningful. “I don’t think it could get any more stressful than this, honestly. First round is more stressful than the final in my experience. So yeah, I think for me it was a good test.”

MORE: With Coco Gauff at the Top, Who Are the 25 American Women Competing in the US Open 2025 Singles Main Draw?

Third seed Gauff advanced to the second round, where she will face Donna Vekić. Gauff and Vekić have faced each other twice on the professional stage, and their head-to-head record is currently tied at 1-1.

Their first meeting came at the 2024 Paris Olympics on the clay courts of Roland Garros, where Vekić stunned Gauff 7-6(7), 6-2 in the third round. The two met again a few months later at the 2025 United Cup, where Gauff got her revenge with a 6-4, 6-2 victory.

The winner of this match will play either the 28th seed, Magdalena Fręch, or Peyton Stearns in the third round.