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Coco Gauff battled from a set down under the lights as the US Open served up a thriller on opening night.<\/p>\n
American hope Gauff, the sixth seed, was left frazzled by qualifier Laura Siegemund\u2019s incredible anticipation and volleying in the first set.<\/p>\n
But the match swung after an epic 26-minute first game of the second set, a minute longer than Iga Swiatek had taken to win her first set against Rebecca Peterson.<\/p>\n
In front of the watching former world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, Gauff went toe-to-toe with the German at the net and finally converted a break point at the eighth attempt.<\/p>\n
The pair slugged it out with some stunning rallies, firing volley after volley at each other in a match more akin to doubles than singles.<\/p>\n
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A niggly encounter boiled over when Gauff, tiring of the type of delaying tactics from Siegemund which would have had Premier League referees\u2019 chief Howard Webb in a lather, raged at chair umpire Marijana Veljovic.<\/p>\n
The youngster could barely contain her delight when Veljovic deducted Siegemund a point for not being ready to receive, giving Gauff a 5-1 lead in the decider.<\/p>\n
\u201cSlow!\u201d was Gauff\u2019s verdict on the match after closing out a 3-6 6-2 6-4 victory in two hours and 51 minutes.<\/p>\n
\u201cI mean it was a tough match,\u201d she added. \u201cI wasn\u2019t playing my best tennis and Laura fights to the end. I managed to overcome some adversity so I\u2019m happy to get through.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gauff will play another teenager, 16-year-old Mirra Andreeva, in round two.<\/p>\n
World number one Swiatek had earlier helped herself to a New York bagel to get her title defence off to the perfect start.<\/p>\n
The 22-year-old from Poland dropped just eight points as she took the first set to love against Rebecca Peterson.<\/p>\n
Sweden\u2019s\u00a0Peterson did get on the board early in the second but Swiatek, bidding for a fifth grand-slam title, completed a comprehensive 6-0 6-1 victory in just 58 minutes.<\/p>\n
\u201cI really wanted to play solid and start the tournament with everything I practised on,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m happy to play such a great game and despite all the pressure and expectation I can still have fun on the court.\u201d<\/p>\n
There was an upset on day one at Flushing Meadows with eighth seed Maria Sakkari from Greece bowing out 6-4 6-4 to Spanish world number 71 Rebeka Masarova.<\/p>\n
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Fourth seed Elena Rybakina, last year\u2019s Wimbledon champion, had no such trouble, dispatching Marta Kostyuk 6-2 6-1.<\/p>\n
Victoria Azarenka, a three-time finalist, beat Fiona Ferro 6-1 6-2 and Czech 10th seed Karolina Muchova sank Storm Hunter of Australia 6-4 6-0.<\/p>\n