Coco Gauff extra motivated for Billie Jean King Cup Finals

| by Jamie Malachy

Coco Gauff is ready to finish a highly successful season on another positive note. This time, representing the United States at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Glasgow this week.

The World No. 7 has enjoyed another stand-out year, after she shot to prominence with a superb run to the fourth round of Wimbledon in 2019.

American no. 1 Pegula joins list of players withdrawing from BJK Cup Finals
American no. 1 Pegula joins list of players withdrawing from BJK Cup Finals

Gauff reached her main Grand Slam final at Roland Garros in June, with indomitable clay-court force, Iga Swiatek, the eventual victor in that match. She then topped off her season by qualifying for the season-ending WTA Finals in Fort Worth.

However, she had a poor tournament there, losing all of her doubles and singles matches in front of her home crowd. But she is ready to channel that disappointment into finding extra motivation to perform for her country at the last competitive event of 2022.

Speaking ahead of the USA's first match clash with Poland, the 18 year-old said, "Texas didn’t go the way I wanted it to go. That motivated me even more to come here, Gauff continued. "It’s very rare tennis experiences a team atmosphere. I played other team sports like basketball. That’s the one thing I did miss from playing (basketball). The Billie Jean Cup is what brings you closest to that".

Reflecting on another year in which she has managed to build on her past successes, Gauff expressed deserved pride in her achievements, saying, "Obviously it was a great year. I have a lot of high expectations for myself. Overall, I think it’s the best year of my career so far. It’s the most I’ve played tournament-wise. I hope next year is even better".

Before then, though, Gauff and the US team will turn their attention to a talented Polish contingent (albeit without World No. 1, Swiatek), before a final group game match against a very dangerous Czech Republic.

It should be good fun.

Billie Jean King doesn't agree with Swiatek's decision to miss BJK Cup Finals
Billie Jean King doesn't agree with Swiatek's decision to miss BJK Cup Finals

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