Coco Gauff played a really strong match at the 2024 Italian Open, but it wasn't enough to beat the reigning world number one, Iga Swiatek.
For the 10th time in her career, the young American failed to beat Swiatek on a tennis court. It's not something that's completely eluded her so far because the 20-year-old has beaten the Pole before, but it only happened once.
She tried really hard to make it two in Rome, but her effort wasn't good enough. However, the match was very competitive. Gauff pushed really hard, but Swiatek was better.
The 2023 US Open champion was so good, actually, that she feels that she would have beaten anybody else in this match. It's pretty possible because she played a really strong match, the best she's played in recent weeks.
"I mean, overall I would say from where I started the tournament to where I finished, it's definitely overall a positive. The double-faults, they did come just in that one game. Overall, if I'm going 120 on the serves, I have to expect that."
It's an unfortunate feeling for Gauff. Swiatek has been a problem for her for a while, not just for her but for the entire WTA Tour. The American is getting close with every match, and this one was particularly close.
A few points and decisions, and the match could have ended up a bit differently, so she's trending in the right direction.
"But overall I would say from just this match, I feel more negative emotions right now. Like, looking at the whole tournament from where I started to now, I definitely feel like it's major improvement. Against probably anybody else today, I would have won the match."
The grind is important, and Gauff has proven that she's ready for it, so now it's all about who wants it more in the coming months and years.
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