No-fuss, early dominance is too often taken for granted when assessing the likes of world No.3 Coco Gauff’s start to a Grand Slam campaign this year.
Taken in isolation, after the American nabbed a pair of bagel sets and conceded just six games across her opening two matches at the US Open, it typically only reinforced her standing as one of the clear front-runners.
This was far from a run-of-the-mill lead-up for the 20-year-old, however, and no ordinary Grand Slam campaign.
Gauff admitted the pressure had steadily mounted as her return to Flushing Meadows neared.
It was in New York a year ago that she became the first American teenager since her idol Serena Williams in 1999 to triumph in a major final on home soil.
Though still a mile to run to become the youngest woman in 26 years to defend a Grand Slam title, Gauff’s imposing start has delivered more a welcome hint of surprise than cast-iron certainty, given her form of late.
Under the lights on Arthur Ashe Stadium, she dismissed German veteran Tatiana Maria 6-4 6-0 on Wednesday night, which set a showdown against 27th seed Elina Svitolina. It followed her 6-2 6-0 trouncing of Frenchwoman Varvara Gracheva in the opening round.
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“There’s definitely a lot of pressure this tournament, but I’m just enjoying it,” Gauff told Rennae Stubbs on court following her opening win. “The last few weeks have been a little bit tough, but you know, I know if I can play here, I can play great tennis and I think today was the best tennis I’ve played in a while.”
After starting her year with her first successful title defence in Auckland and reaching the Australian Open semifinals, Gauff has reached four further semifinals – Indian Wells, Rome, Roland Garros and Berlin – before her most challenging stretch since becoming a major champion.
Countrywoman Emma Navarro easily had her measure in the fourth round at Wimbledon and she departed the Paris Olympics in the third round, as well as the second round in women’s doubles and mixed doubles, despite being a medal favourite across the three events.
Her slump persisted onto her preferred North American hard courts, where she bowed out in her second match in Toronto and first in Cincinnati to slip to world No.3.
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These results starkly contrasted with her Washington-Cincinnati title double last year, which provided the ideal launchpad for her Grand Slam title breakthrough.
Former Australian player-turned-commentator Todd Woodbridge said it was always going to be difficult for Gauff defending her home Slam as one of the most high-profile athletes in the world.
“What I hope for Coco is that she gets through this tournament without any scarring to her game, because she's still an athlete in development, yet she's already achieved so much,” Woodbridge told ausopen.com.
“She's carried the flag at the Olympics, she's going to be on billboards all around New York, and she isn't in form. And you can't just pluck that form out of somewhere.
“So hopefully she can steel herself and get through a bit and still perform, and then I have no doubt in my mind that she'll come back and win more US Opens.”
Gauff remains in the hunt to become the third woman this year to defend a major after the two women ranked above her, Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek.
For now, it is all about further rebuilding momentum and confidence.
“This year is a complete and utter learning curve for her, about how to deal with those different pressures and find a tool or mechanism to be able to come into this type of event, her home event, in a way that relieves stress and pressure, and doesn't build it,” Woodbridge said.
Not since Williams a decade ago has a woman defended her crown at Flushing Meadows.
It reflected the challenge before Gauff and she gave a hat-tip to a fan on social media after they put her first attempt at a Grand Slam title defence into perspective.
“Somebody commented on my TikTok and they were just like you’ve won in life literally and figuratively,” Gauff said on court.
“There’s no point putting pressure on yourself on a victory lap, so I’m just treating this tournament like that. If you defend something that means you won something. If you did it, that means you can do it again.
“Whether I do it again this year, or not, I’m going to do it again. Whether it’s 2024 or not, I will do it again.”