In her third and final Round Robin phase match at the 2024 WTA Finals, Coco Gauff’s winning streak came to a screeching halt. Barbora Krejcikova defeated her 5-7, 4-6. Gauff discussed using selfishness as a coping mechanism for fan criticism and high expectations after the game.
Gauff performed outstandingly in her opening two matches, defeating five-time Major champion Iga Swiatek (6-3, 6-4) and her countrywoman Jessica Pegula (6-3, 6-2). She struggled to capitalize on her break point opportunities, especially against Krejcikova. Krejcikova herself had four break point opportunities and converted three of them, while Gauff only converted one of her twelve.
Following the game, Gauff spoke with reporters during a press conference. A reporter questioned World No. 3 about how she manages to reconcile her love and joy for tennis with the demands of expectations.
Gauff responded by saying: “I think, for me, I think honestly, pettiness. Yeah, I think, that’s really the answer. I think I just love to be, like, say I’m right and stuff, and obviously it doesn’t work. I don’t win all the time, but, specifically today, I got a lot of comments about how I was going to lose badly today. So I was just like, ‘Okay, we’ll see’. And obviously, I don’t know. So yeah, I think it’s honestly just liking the idea of just proving people wrong and letting your racket do the talking.”
The 2023 US Open champion continued by discussing how she manipulates her thoughts to find motivation in the criticism she receives.
She added: “I think it’s just training your mind to think these things, whether that’s how the person intended it, probably not. But, if you trick your mind, it’s crazy you know how your mind’s daily mindset and daily thoughts and decisions can change.”
Coco Gauff in 2024
Ranked world no.3, the American played her last match on the 7th of November when she lost to world no.13 Barbora Krejcikova 7-5 6-4 in the round robin in Riyadh (draw).
Currently, during this year Gauff achieved a 52-17 win-loss record. The American conquered 2 titles in 2024 in Auckland and Beijing.
Coco Gauff will fight against the world no.222 Sinja Kraus in the . They have never competed against each other so far in top events.
The American has won 2 titles in 2024 in Auckland and Beijing.
Gauff won 8 titles in her career: 6 on hard courts, 1 on clay courts and 1 on indoor courts. (See the list of her titles)
Coco Gauff |
| Embed from Getty Images |
Coco Gauff in 2024
At the moment ranked no.3, Coco played her last match on the 7th of November when she surrendered to world no.13 Barbora Krejcikova 7-5 6-4 in the round robin in Riyadh (draw).
Currently, during this year the American has an overall 52-17 match record. Gauff clinched 2 titles in 2024 in Auckland and Beijing.
Coco Gauff will face the world no.222 Sinja Kraus in the . They have never competed against each other till now in top tournaments.
Gauff clinched 2 titles in 2024 in Auckland and Beijing.
Gauff won 8 titles in her career: 6 on hard courts, 1 on clay courts and 1 on indoor courts. (See the list of her titles)
Coco Gauff |
| Embed from Getty Images |