'Great week despite rain' gives Gauff 'a lot of confidence'
WTA
Coco Gauff started the 2023 season by winning a title at the ASB Classic in Auckland, and she had many reasons to be happy afterward.
Gauff was by far the best player in Auckland. She destroyed all of the opponents on the way to the title, never losing a set or more than four games in a set.
The teenager bested Tatjana Maria, Sofia Kenin, Lin Zhu, Danka Kovinic, and Rebeka Masarova to win her first title since May 2021. Especially her last two wins were impressive, as she lost only two games in each of those matches.
Speaking after her final win over Masarova, 6-1, 6-1, Gauff was probably the only player leaving Auckland happy after what was a week full of rain, with the matches even having to move to indoor courts.
"Honestly, a great week for me despite the rain. Couldn't ask for a better start to my season. First title on hard since I was 15. I'm happy to be successful on a surface that I love."
For Gauff, this was a great confidence-building week ahead of the first Grand Slam tournament of the season. She will be one of the dark horses at the Australian Open, and she wants to use the confidence from Auckland in Melbourne.
"It gives me a lot of confidence, honestly. You never know how your first week is gonna go. Could be good or terrible. But I think it's been a great week for both of us."
On the other hand, Masarova, who played her first WTA final, also had many reasons to be happy, but naturally, right after the loss, she wasn't.
She will break into the Top 100 in the WTA Rankings thanks to her run to the final, but she was disappointed about her final loss, while also recognizing how well Gauff played in the final.
"My first WTA final, I'm really disappointed with today's match. I couldn't really play my game. Coco was playing amazing. The few chances I had she played really unbelievable."
