Coco Gauff has been receiving media attention left and right lately as one of the youngest ever players to compete in the U.S. Open. At just 15 years old, Gauff has already reached the second week in Wimbledon and the third round at the Flushing Meadows. Tennis superstars like Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka have already sung her praises. Now, another prominent tennis personality has added themselves in the pro-Coco Gauff chorus: Rafael Nadal.
How the American rising star should handle the pressure
Nadal commended Gauff for successfully sailing through the first two rounds of the matches in the Flushing Meadows. He knows that Gauff has a bright future ahead of her and he wishes the best for her.
He, however, gave her some tips on how to handle the pressure and how to become a more effective player. He said that she needs to internalize the things that surround her step by step so that she will not lose her sight on what matters. Nadal also said that she needs to keep the right people around her if she wants to become a big star. Nadal also acknowledged that while she is doing great, she is still young.
Gauff, who is only competing in senior Grand Slams starting this year, already defeated former her childhood hero Venus Williams in Wimbledon last month. In fact, it was that match that made her a darling of the press.
Who will win between Naomi Osaka and Coco Gauff?
Meanwhile, Gauff won over another young player, Russia’s Anastasia Potapova, for the first round with a 6-3 2-6 4-6 score. The match was so competitive that ESPN commentator Patrick McEnroe asked during the broadcast if they really are seeing teenagers battling each other in court.
She then defeated Hungary’s Timea Babos in the second round. Gauff is such a huge star now that when she won a huge part of the crowd was chanting her name.
With her victory, Gauff is now in the third round of the Grand Slams, with a formidable opponent standing in her way to the finals: defending champion Naomi Osaka. Yet another young tennis star who shone brightly after prevailing over a more experienced player, Osaka was victorious against Poland’s Magda Linette, with a score of 6-2 6-4. Osaka may be feeling extra pressure as it is her first time defending her title.
Osaka and Gauff will be delivering what could be the most headline-making match of the tournament so far. If Gauff wins she will break in the top100. Then the sky is the limit.
Gauff at the U.S. Open, ranking and results in 2019
Ranked no.140 (career-high), Cori has a 12-5 win-loss record in 2019. The American is currently playing at the U.S. Open where she defeated Anastasia Potapova 3-6 6-2 6-4 and Timea Babos 6-2 4-6 6-4.
The American will play Osaka in the 3rd round. They have never played each so far on the main tour.
Nadal at the U.S. Open, ranking and results in 2019
Ranked no.2, the Spaniard has a 42-6 win-loss record in 2019. The Spaniard is currently playing at the U.S. Open where he defeated John Millman 6-3 6-2 6-2 and Thanasi Kokkinakis w/o.
The Spaniard will compete against Chung in the 3rd round. The head to head is 2-0 for Nadal.
The last time that they played, Nadal won 7-5 6-3 in the 2nd round in Paris in November 2017.
Rafael has won 3 titles in his career in 2019 in Rome, at the French Open and in Montreal. Rafael was the finalist at the Australian Open.
Rafael won 83 titles in his career. 19 on hard courts, 59 on clay courts, 1 on indoor courts and 4 on grass courts. (See the list of his titles)
