Third-seeded American tennis star Coco Gauff commenced her Australian Open 2026 campaign with a decisive straight-sets victory over Uzbekistan's Kamilla Rakhimova. The match, played on Day 2, Monday, January 19, 2026, at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, saw Gauff win 6-2, 6-3. Despite experiencing some familiar serving difficulties, including striking six double faults in the first set, Gauff demonstrated her class and power to secure her advancement to the second round. This win marks Gauff's 75th overall major match victory and improves her first-round Grand Slam record to 23-4. The original article from Last Word On Sports, published on January 18, 2026, had accurately predicted Gauff's victory in two sets, highlighting her strong performance for Team USA in the United Cup and her overall dominance against lower-ranked players. Gauff will now face Olga Danilovic in the second round, who previously defeated Venus Williams. This win underscores Gauff's ambition to clinch her maiden Australian Open title, following her previous Grand Slam successes at Roland Garros and the US Open. The Australian Open 2026 continues to be a major international sports event with significant global interest.