NEW YORK, ⁠Sept 1 (Reuters) - Home favourite Coco Gauff began her campaign for a second ⁠U.S. Open crown with a 6-3 6-4 victory over Turkey's Zeynep Sonmez ‌on Tuesday.

The 22-year-old arrived fresh from winning the Cincinnati Open and is chasing a third Grand Slam title after her breakthrough triumph in New York in 2023.

"I wasn't that nervous today, which was a ​shock," Gauff said on court. "When I walked back out on ⁠this court, I was trying to ⁠hold back a smile."

Gauff was in control under the lights and closed roof of ⁠Arthur ‌Ashe Stadium, taking the only break of serve in the first set and wrapping up the opener in just over half an hour.

World number ⁠53 Sonmez showed flashes of her talent and produced a ​string of impressive winners, ‌including a blistering backhand that drew applause from the crowd and even ⁠Gauff herself.

Sonmez, 24, ​looked to have settled in the second set, breaking back immediately after Gauff opened with a break and began testing the American with deep groundstrokes and forays to the net.

Gauff came ⁠under pressure trailing 3-2 but fought off three ​break points to hold and level the set before breaking Sonmez to reassert control at 4-3.

The American pulled away from there as Sonmez struggled to sustain the level that ⁠had briefly unsettled the fourth seed, leaving Gauff to close out another comfortable win.

"I know that I can raise my level if I need to," Gauff said.

"I like to challenge my opponent to keep up that level the whole match, and if they ​do, I clap my hands and walk off the ⁠court with my head held high. But I was able to settle down."

Gauff, who ​has reached the fourth round or better at the ‌U.S. Open in each of the last four ​years, will face either Daria Kasatkina or Paula Badosa in the second round.

(Reporting by Janina Nuno Rios in New York; Editing by Peter Rutherford)