NEW YORK: Defending champion Coco Gauff shook off her struggles on serve to reach the third round of the US Open on Wednesday with a 6-4, 6-0 victory over 99th-ranked Tatjana Maria of Germany.
The 20-year-old American, who has had an erratic season since capturing her maiden major on the hard courts of New York, had nine double faults and put just 44 percent of her first serves in play.
She escaped with the first set despite 20 unforced errors – double the total of her 10 winners. She double-faulted on her first set point and had to replay the second when the electronic line-calling system malfunctioned.
Maria, a 37-year-old veteran, just didn't have the weapons to take advantage, converting just one of her five break chances.
With a set in hand Gauff began to hit with more authority. She finished with 25 winners and 25 unforced errors and won the last seven games.
"I started to go more to the net in the second set, should have done that more in the first," Gauff said. "I think I played well overall. I think if I could have served better that first set would have been a lot easier."