Less than a year ago, Coco Gauff became the first US woman to win the women’s singles title in Paris since Serena Williams in 2015. She opened her title defence in the same decisive fashion on Tuesday in Court Philippe-Chatrier, powering past fellow American Taylor Townsend, 6-4, 6-0.
Only three times in the Open era has the defending women’s singles champion lost in the first round of the Roland-Garros singles draw. Despite an early deficit, Gauff was determined not to be the fourth.
