Coco Gauff says a pep speak helped her overcome early nerves as she cruised by her first Grand Slam match as a significant champion on the Australian Open.
The 19-year-old American, who gained her maiden main title on the US Open in September, gained 6-3 6-0 towards Slovakia’s Anna Karolina Schmiedlova.
“I instructed myself: ‘I really feel good, I look good so simply have enjoyable.’ I used to be capable of loosen up,” mentioned the fourth seed.
Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova suffered a shock exit on day two.
Vondrousova, ranked seventh on the planet, turned the very best seed to fall to this point in spherical one after a 6-1 6-2 defeat by Ukrainian qualifier Dayana Yastremska.
Afterwards, Yastremska mentioned her grandmother’s home was lately hit by a rocket within the ongoing warfare in her residence nation.
The 23-year-old mentioned the resistance confirmed by her nation towards the Russian invasion is what motivates her on courtroom.
“To speak about what’s going on in Ukraine in a few seconds shouldn’t be sufficient,” she mentioned in her on-court interview.
“I am happy with Ukraine, happy with the folks, the soldiers and the folks.
“Once I was in Brisbane, earlier than the match I used to be instructed a rocket arrived on my grandmother’s home. It was laborious to play.
“We have to keep in mind about [the war] and provides as a lot help to Ukraine as attainable.”
Elina Svitolina, one other Ukrainian who has spoken at size about the impact of the war, can also be by.
The nineteenth seed wanted 59 minutes to finish a 6-2 6-2 win over Australian wildcard Taylah Preston.