Tennis: Top seed Coco Gauff kicks off ASB Classic title defence with routine first-round victory

American teen superstar Coco Gauff has begun her ASB Classic title defence with a straightforward 6-4 6-2 win over compatriot Claire Liu.

The world No. 3 shook off some early rust before closing out ger first victory of 2024 and sending an early warning to her rivals in the star-studded Auckland field.

Gauff hit the ground running against her fellow American, earning a break in Liu's first service game, before closing out a 4-0 lead with an ace.

Liu stemmed the tide with a break of her own in the fourth game and as errors crept into Gauff's game - particularly with her serve - fought back into the contest.  

But the reigning US Open champion soon found her feet to close out the first set with a second break of serve.

She carried that momentum with her into the second set, again claiming an early break, as she found some rhythm with her play and set a pace Liu couldn't match.

Gauff advances to face qualifier Brenda Fruhvirtova in the second round.

American teen superstar Coco Gauff has begun her ASB Classic title defence with a straightforward 6-4 6-2 win over compatriot Claire Liu.

The world No. 3 shook off some early rust before closing out ger first victory of 2024 and sending an early warning to her rivals in the star-studded Auckland field.

Gauff hit the ground running against her fellow American, earning a break in Liu's first service game, before closing out a 4-0 lead with an ace.

Liu stemmed the tide with a break of her own in the fourth game and as errors crept into Gauff's game - particularly with her serve - fought back into the contest.  

But the reigning US Open champion soon found her feet to close out the first set with a second break of serve.

She carried that momentum with her into the second set, again claiming an early break, as she found some rhythm with her play and set a pace Liu couldn't match.

Gauff advances to face qualifier Brenda Fruhvirtova in the second round.

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