World number two Coco Gauff narrowly avoided an early exit at the WTA Canadian Open on Tuesday, edging out fellow American Danielle Collins 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (7/2) to progress to the third round in Montreal.
The reigning French Open and 2023 US Open champion rallied in the final-set tie-break, winning the last six points to secure victory in her opening match at the hardcourt event — her first in the build-up to the US Open, which begins on 24 August.
“It was a frustrating match for me because I felt like I had been practising well but didn’t quite carry that into the match,” Gauff admitted. “Hopefully that was my off-day and I can come back stronger in the next round.”
Despite hitting 23 double faults to just three aces, the 21-year-old still managed to close out the contest in two hours and 55 minutes, finishing with an ace.
Gauff will next face world number five Veronika Kudermetova, who eased past Serbia’s Olga Danilovic 6-4, 6-2.
Reflecting on the match, Gauff said: “It was a tough battle. My serve was the biggest challenge. Maybe if I cut the double faults in half, it would’ve been a much shorter match. But I’m taking the positives — breaking her serve as much as I did is a good sign.”
The pair traded breaks early in the opening set before Gauff took control at 4-2. However, Collins fought back to level at 5-5, only for Gauff to hold and break again to take the set.
Collins struck back in the second, breaking at love to lead 4-3 and holding twice to level the match.
In the decider, Collins looked set for a famous win when she served for the match at 6-5, but Gauff broke back with a well-placed backhand crosscourt shot to force the tie-break. From 2-1 down, the top seed didn’t drop another point — sealing the win with a powerful service game.
The biggest upset of the day came courtesy of Japanese qualifier Aoi Ito, who stunned seventh seed Jasmine Paolini 2-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7/5).
World number 110 Ito, 21, came from a set and break down and saved a match point to claim her first victory over a top-10 player after two hours and 27 minutes on court.
Ito, who had already earned her maiden WTA 1000 win in the previous round against Katie Volynets, will now face Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, ranked 51st, in the third round. Maneiro defeated American Ashlyn Krueger 6-4, 6-4.
The Japanese youngster had not won a tour-level match this year before arriving in Montreal but showed tremendous grit to upset the in-form Paolini, who is currently ranked sixth in the world.
Canadian home favourite and DC Open champion Leylah Fernandez suffered a disappointing 6-4, 6-1 defeat to Australian qualifier Maya Joint.
Meanwhile, Russia’s Anna Kalinskaya — runner-up in Washington — booked her place in the next round with a 7-6 (8/6), 0-6, 6-3 win over American Ann Li.
Fourth seed Mirra Andreeva also progressed after Canadian Bianca Andreescu withdrew due to a left ankle injury.
