'Flag Doesn't Add Any Pressure': Gauff On Facing Compatriot Keys In Eastbourne
WTAThursday, 29 June 2023 at 23:00
Updated at Thursday, 15 May 2025 at 20:30
Coco Gauff will try and book another final this year, and she will need to go through compatriot Madison Keys at the 2023 Eastbourne International to do so.
Gauff started this year by going to a final. It was the final in Auckland, and she ended up with the trophy, beating Rebeka Masarova in the final. She hasn't played any finals since then, at least not in singles, so a chance to book another one is a big deal for the American.
While a rather consistent player for much of her career, Gauff hasn't played many finals in her career so far. She played in four, winning three of them and the only loss was in the biggest final she played - the Roland Garros final last year.
To get to the final now, she will face a familiar player in Madison Keys. An American player is guaranteed to play in the final, and Gauff is determined that it will be her.
"I mean, really determined. The flag doesn't add any other pressure. Yeah, and it's great that women's tennis in our country is doing well and the men are doing well too. I think it's an exciting time to be a player from the U.S. playing and also being a fan."
Gauff and Keys have played a few times already, with Gauff leading the H2H 2-1 on the WTA Tour. The first match was last year and was won by Keys. Months later, Gauff exacted her revenge, beating Keys at the US Open.
Their match this year in Dubai was also won by Gauff, so she has figured out how to play against Keys after the initial loss. Now, the younger American just needs to translate that to grass. Her form on grass has been somewhat shaky this year, with a bad loss in Berlin, which is a motivating factor in turning things around.
A win over Jessica Pegula certainly should give Gauff a confidence boost, and a chance to make a milestone fifth career final is certainly added motivation as well.
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