Coco Gauff started her 2023 grass-court season at the Berlin Open with an impressive win over Katerina Siniakova.
In the past, the two met multiple times on the WTA Tour, and almost every time, it was the young American who triumphed. However, doubles World No. 1 Siniakova managed to beat Gauff last year at the Billie Jean King Cup, and she wanted to follow up on that win also in Berlin.
The 19-year-old ended her clay-court part of the season with a 7-4 record and a quarterfinal run at the Roland Garros. On the other hand, the Czech player played only one match as she struggled with injuries over the past few months.
The grass should suit Gauff's game more and she showed it in the first-round match in Berlin. The first set was a typical grass-court set, with both players comfortably holding onto their serve, except for one game.
In the sixth game of the opening set, Gauff created two break point opportunities, and using the second one, she secured the needed break to win the first set 6-3.
In the second set, both players had one break point and it was the efficiency that mattered. While Gauff used her chance in the third game, Siniakova didn't in the sixth and that mattered.
After an hour and 16 minutes, the American won the match 6-3, 6-4 advancing to the second round of the 2023 Berlin Open and setting up a match with recent Libema Open champion Ekaterina Alexandrova. Speaking after the match, Gauff was really happy about the first grass-court win.
"Today was difficult. I think we were both struggling. The level honestly wasn’t that high… it’s the first match on grass and my first time playing on this court since or any court at this facility since last year."
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