Coco Gauff made it to the third round of the 2024 US Open, and a part of her success could be credited to mindset change.
The American player entered the most challenging swing of her tennis career a few weeks ago. After winning the Citi Open in Washington, the Cincinnati Open, and the US Open last year, she had to defend all of those titles this year.
She couldn't play at the WTA 500 event in Washington because of the Olympics, and during her title defense in Cincinnati, the 20-year-old lost already in her first match to Yulia Putintseva.
However, in New York, things have been going much more smoothly for the defending champion. She first outplayed Varvara Gracheva 6-2, 6-0, and then added another bagel to her collection, beating Tatjana Maria 6-4, 6-0.
It was a great start to the last major of the season for the home crowd favorite, but like always, she focused on what could be improved in her game, as she wants to challenge for the title at Flushing Meadows.
In the first set of her match against Maria, the American player struggled with her serve. She hit seven double faults and hit her first serve only 47% of the time, and following the match, she was quick to recognzie those struggles.
"If I could serve better, that first set would have been easier. My toss was too far in front, and I didn't serve as fast as I normally did in some serves. I think I was between the 110s and 115 [miles per hour]. My last match I was getting almost every serve 120."
"If I don't have an aggressive mindset, everything kind of goes all over the place. I just [wanted to] get it in because I knew she wasn't going to hurt me off the return. Sometimes I think I even serve better against better returners because you know you have to bring your ‘A’ game."
Up next, she will play against Elina Svitolina, who she met once already this year, and it was a victorious meeting for her. Gauff bested Svitolina in the 2024 ASB Classic final, 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-3. However, it wasn't an easy match, and she will remember it ahead of their next meeting.
"[Svitolina is] a difficult opponent, a veteran player. I played her earlier in Auckland, and that was a tough, tough match. “I know I'll have to bring my best tennis to win against her."
Speaking to Nick Kyrgios during her on-court interview, the 20-year-old American was asked about the experience of winning a Grand Slam title, as the Australian player never managed to do that in his singles tennis career.
Talking in front of the packed Arthur Ashe Stadium, Gauff admitted that she doesn't feel the pressure anymore, as she's aware of the fact that she's still only 20 and has 'nothing to lose' despite being the defending champion at the 2024 US Open.
"Last week I felt more pressure. Stepping on the court now I have really nothing to lose. I’m 20 years old. I have one under my belt. I have the potential to do more whether it happens this year or in the future."
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