Coco Gauff was beaten in the 2024 Australian Open semi-final by Aryna Sabalenka, but she won't allow one match to define her career.
Careers very rarely get defined by one match, even if the players are literally known for one thing. Goran Ivanisevic won Wimbledon back in 2001 and is mostly known for that, but his career wasn't defined by that event or that final.
He's known for more outside of that, so generally, no matter what players do, their career won't be defined by one match. Gauff's career certainly won't be defined by her US Open triumph last year, as she'll likely win more.
The defeat to Aryna Sabalenka won't define her career either because she won't let it define her career. Growing up and watching players like Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams made her realize that you don't let one math define her career.
They lost in the finals, and they lost in the semi-finals, but they got back to it, and that's what she plans on doing as well. Get up and fight.
"You know, I watched these matches growing up and, like, watching Serena and watching Sharapova lose, like, these matches. It seems like when you're in it, it feels like the end of the world. But then when you look at history, they didn't let one match define their career."
Gauff has plenty to be excited about in the coming months. She's clearly established herself as one of the world's best players, and clay season has always been pretty strong for her. The ambitions are high, so she'll be gunning for more trophies.
"I'm not going to let this match -- I'm going to dwell on it tonight, but as Brad told me as soon as the match was over, the sun is going to rise tomorrow and you have a new chance to live a good day."
0 Comments