Coco Gauff acknowledges that rivals are now more motivated to beat her, but she emphasizes that she does not see this negatively and instead sees it as a chance to improve as a player.
The 20-year-old Gauff is currently regarded as one of the best players in the game after winning a Grand Slam and rising to the top of the world rankings in the last 11 months. However, the 2023 US Open champion suddenly feels like she has a target on her back, so it has a cost.
The most recent instance of such was on Thursday in Toronto, where Gauff won 6-4, 6-4, despite Wang Yafan, ranked 72 in the world, putting up a fierce battle and effort. Gauff has been quite consistent in 2024, but in her past two tournaments, she unexpectedly lost in the round of 16 to Donna Vekic at the Olympics in Paris and to Emma Navarro at Wimbledon.
She talked about it recently and said: “Yeah, it’s definitely difficult. I feel like a lot of times people play their best tennis against the higher-ranked players, and that’s just because they have nothing to lose, so it’s definitely a difference. Yeah, but I think overall it just makes me better. If everybody’s playing me at their high level it can only make me better.”
Coco Gauff in 2024
LWLWWLWWWL Now the world no.2 (career-high), the American played her last match on the 9th of August when she was overcome by world no.24 Diana Shnaider 6-4 6-1 in the 3rd round in Toronto (draw).
This year the American has managed to achieve an overall 38-13 match record. Coco clinched 1 title in Auckland.
Coco Gauff will square off with the world no.270 Sinja Kraus in the . In the past, they have never played each other till now on the main tour.
Coco has won 1 title in 2024 in Auckland.
The American won 7 titles in her career: 5 on hard courts, 1 on clay courts and 1 on indoor courts. (See the list of her titles)
Gauff has scheduled to play next in Cincinnati (Western & Southern Open). She will start from the main draw that will commence on the 12th of August.
Coco Gauff |
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