Defending champion Coco Gauff says she is treating this year's US Open as a "victory lap" after comfortably beating Varvara Gracheva in her opening match.
Gauff, 20, began her title defence with a 6-2 6-0 victory in just 66 minutes on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The American beat Aryna Sabalenka in last year's final to win her first Grand Slam and followed that by reaching the semi-finals of the Australian Open and French Open this year.
But she has struggled for form recently, losing in the third round of the Paris Olympics before suffering early exits at tournaments in Cincinnati and Toronto.
Gauff said the past few weeks have "been a little bit tough", but she believed her performance against Gracheva was "the best tennis I have played in a while".
She added that a fan's comment on her TikTok account had helped change her perspective coming into the US Open.
"Someone commented on my TikTok saying you've won in life, literally and figuratively, and there's no point in piling pressure on yourself on a victory lap," Gauff said in her on-court interview.
"I'm just treating this tournament like that and if you defend something that means you won something."
Gauff, who fired down 10 aces, broke Gracheva's serve twice in the opening set and won the last nine games on her way to an emphatic victory.
She will face German veteran Tatjana Maria in the second round after the 37-year-old moved past Argentine qualifier Solana Sierra 6-2 6-3.
Latest Stories
-
Everything is more difficult now – Guardiola
5 mins -
Mahama will make the economy viable for the youth to become entrepreneurs- Osman Ayariga
10 mins -
East Legon crash: Police pursue TikTokers for ‘false claims’ about Salifu Amoako’s son’s location
38 mins -
Severe food shortage force some SHSs to serve repetitive meals
47 mins -
Don Julio 1942 launched by Guinness Ghana Breweries with an enchanting Halloween Ball celebration
49 mins -
3 Central Region MCEs intensify cholera control efforts after 5 deaths
55 mins -
Bawumia’s 12 ‘Bold Steps’ to expand educational opportunities for all
56 mins -
Mahama criticises NPP for accumulating energy debt to pass on to next NDC gov’t
57 mins -
Agromonti empowers Techiman farmers with sustainable agriculture training in CSR event
1 hour -
Ghanaians deserve certificates for enduring hardship under NPP – Mahama
1 hour -
AG’s office needs 1,500 public attorneys for proper discharge of functions – Godfred Dame
1 hour -
Court sentences man to life imprisonment for murdering girlfriend; daughter
1 hour -
Bawumia’s $80 bn value claim for Spotify, false – Dubawa
1 hour -
GBA President calls for transparent and fair December election
2 hours -
November 8 not a public holiday – Interior Ministry
2 hours