ANKARA: Defending champion Coco Gauff advanced to the 2024 US Open second round in women's singles on Monday. The No. 3 seed beat her Russian-born French opponent Varvara Gracheva 6-2, 6-0 to advance at this year's last tennis Grand Slam in New York City. Gauff, 20, will face 37-year-old German veteran Tatjana Maria in the second round. Meanwhile, Greek player Maria Sakkari, who is ranked ninth globally, was forced to retire from her match against China's Wang Yafan. Underdog Wang was victorious in the first set by 6-2 before Sakkari withdrew due to a shoulder injury. Wang will play against France's Diane Parry in the second round. In men's singles, German fourth seed Alexander Zverev defeated his compatriot Maximilian Marterer 6-2, 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 6-2 to qualify for the second round at the US Open. Norway's Casper Ruud, who is ranked eighth, defeated China's Bu Yunchaokete 7-6 (7-2), 6-2, 6-2 to advance to the men's second round. The US Open started on Monday and will run for nearly two weeks, with t he men's singles final on Sept. 8. Source: Anadolu Agency