Gauff set the tone by taking the first point on offer before going on to take the game.
In the second game, however, it proved to be far from smooth sailing for Gauff. Consecutive double faults from the American invited pressure from Rakhimova, though she held firm to see out the near 10-minute exchange.
Rakhimova pulled a game back midway through the set before Gauff put her foot on the gas to extend her lead to 5-1. A relentless display from the Uzbekistani saw her continually peg back her US opponent, taking it to an eighth and eventual final game.
Gauff needed six set points to go up 1-0, a testament to Rakhimova’s resilience, but the second set would be marked by moments of magic from the 21-year-old.
Rakhimova looked…