US Open 2023 winner Coco Gauff looks primed to be an Australian Open contender after mauling Anna Karolina Schmiedlova in an hour-long thrashing in the first round.
The 19-year-old, fresh from winning the ASB Classic in Auckland, steamrolled the 64th-ranked Slovak 6-3 6-0 in exactly 60 minutes on Rod Laver Arena on Monday.
Gauff will now meet countrywoman Caroline Dolehide in the second round on Wednesday or Thursday.
Gauff dominates after inconsistent start
Intriguingly, the fourth seed broke Schmiedlova's serve on all seven occasions throughout the match, but dropped her own serve three times in the first set.
Gauff's inability to hold her serve in the first set kept Schmiedlova in the match, before the American managed to close out the first set with a service game to love.
However, the teenager hit her straps in the second set, bagelling Schmiedlova, who only won five of the 30 points in an extraordinarily one-sided period.
Post-match, Gauff said: "I felt good. I was a little bit nervous coming in today. Probably you could tell. I was able to just calm down and then play, not my best, but good tennis from that point."
Gauff to meet compatriot Dolehide
Gauff will meet fellow American Caroline Dolehide in the second round, with her opponent having never reached further than the second round of a Grand Slam.
Dolehide had no issues sweeping aside Laura Jeanjean in the first round 6-2 6-4e
It's been a quality 12 months for Dolehide however, reaching the final of the Guadalajara Open and reaching a career-high ranking of 41.
Interestingly, Dolehide was beaten by Gauff's Australian Open first round opponent Schmiedlova at the Brisbane International.
Tough opponents loom on Gauff's horizon
Should Gauff proceed past Dolehide as expected, 2021 US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez will likely be waiting in the third round, while the likes of Naomi Osaka or Caroline Garcia could be lurking in the fourth round.
The fourth seed is in the half of the draw with 2023 Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka, while managing to avoid a potential match with world no.1 Iga Swiatek, unless she reaches the final.
