MELBOURNE, Australia — There’s a young woman who looks a lot like Coco Gauff at Melbourne Park for the Australian Open. She has the same fiery, competitive eyes, the same tendency to break out in a giggle in the middle of a sentence and the same number of titles.

Coco Gauff of the U.S. plays a backhand return to Sofia Kenin of the U.S. during their first round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake) MELBOURNE,

Coco Gauff had a little difficulty adjusting to the sun at one end of Rod Laver Arena and dropped an early service game but quickly settled into a rhythm to start her Australian Open with a 6-3, 6-3 win Monday over 2020 champion Sofia Kenin.

The Australian Open began in a hurry with the defending women's champion Aryna Sabalenka in action.Sabalenka – shooting for her third consecutive title at Melbourne Park – moved past US Open 2017 champion Sloane Stephens in straight sets.

The Australian Open 2025 is set to kick off on Sunday, January 12, running until January 26, with a stellar lineup that promises thrilling matches and high-stakes encounters.