Dominant Coco Gauff double bagels Arantxa Rus in Madrid opener

Coco Gauff came alive in her first outdoor red-clay event of the 2024 season, putting down an emphatic 6-0, 6-0 victory over Arantxa Rus to score her first double-bagel of her career at the Mutua Madrid Open.

"I know everyone's here to see Rafa so I was just trying to get off the court for you guys!" Gauff joked after the match.

The reigning US Open champion looked shaky on the indoor clay at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, but sent an incredible opening salvo to the field with her play at the Caja Magica, dominating the Dutch veteran in 51 minutes flat on Manolo Santana Stadium.

"I'm happy to be back here in Madrid. I like the conditions here. It feels good to be outside; my last tournament was indoors, so it's good to be back in the sun even though it's a little bit cooler than normal."

Gauff was coming off an up-and-down Sunshine Swing, reaching the semifinals of the BNP Paribas Open but enduring a disappointing fourth-round loss at the Miami Open, which the world No. 3 considers her home tournament.

That form continued in Stuttgart, where she needed three sets to defeat Sachia Vickery only to lose a dramatic three-set encounter with Marta Kostyuk in a rematch of their similarly titanic Australian Open quarterfinal.

Gauff, who turned 20 last month, swept aside any lingering questions about her form in her first match in Madrid, storming through the first set in 23 minutes and striking six winners to four unforced errors, converting three of four break point opportunities.

At 33, Rus was a former junior standout, winning the girl’s singles title at the 2008 Australian Open, and while she scored one of her biggest career wins on clay in 2011 over Kim Clijsters at Roland Garros, long struggled with consistency. Still, the veteran peaked at No. 41 in the WTA rankings last summer and has looked stronger since partnering with coach Julian Alonso.

Despite losing serve to start the second set, Rus made her play as Gauff aimed to consolidate, earning four break points that could have turned the match on its head. The young American bravely saved all four and went back on a roll, reeling off the next three games to find herself a game away from the elusive double bagel.

Serving for the 6-0, 6-0 stunner, Gauff would not be denied, landing a running forehand winner that had her smiling as she earned match points, ultimately clinching the love match at love and shouting out the "lit" young fans cheering her on in the crowd.

Up next for Gauff will be a date with No. 3 seed and fellow 2024 Australian Open semifinalist Dayana Yastremska, who shook off losing a bagel set of her own to defeat Colombian qualifier Emiliana Arango, 0-6, 7-5, 6-4.