By Ian Ransom
MELBOURNE, Jan 19 (Reuters) – Coco Gauff started her quest for a maiden Australian Open title with a 6-2 6-3 win over Kamilla Rakhimova at Rod Laver Arena to reach the second round on Monday.
Third seed Gauff wobbled on serve at times and was broken as she tried to close out the match at 5-2 in the second set against her Uzbek oppoenent.
However, Rakhimova gave up two match points on serve in the very next game and then surrendered the contest with a backhand over the baseline.
A former semi-finalist at Melbourne Park and a quarter-finalist last year, French Open champion Gauff is seeking a third Grand Slam title.
She will next meet lefthander Olga Danilovic, who knocked Venus Williams out on day one, for a place in the third round.
(Reporting by Ian Ransom in Melbourne; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
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