"Inspiring more than anything else" - Gauff on Raducanu's US Open win
WTA
Coco Gauff discussed being inspired by what Emma Raducanu achieved at the 2021 US Open before the pair's meeting in the second round of the Australian Open.
Gauff and Raducanu share an obvious similarity. They burst onto the scene at young ages and have had to learn how to deal with constant media scrutiny and often unrealistic expectations from some fans and journalists.
Raducanu won the 2021 US Open as an 18-year-old qualifier. She did not drop a set during her extraordinary run to the title at Flushing Meadows, which will always be remembered as one of the most unexpected moments in tennis history.
Gauff, now 18, reached her maiden Grand Slam final at last year's French Open. Unfortunately, she ran into Iga Swiatek at that stage, who won her 35th consecutive match to beat the American.
That achievement, along with others, enabled Gauff to finish last season inside the Top 10 for the first time. After her impressive efforts in 2022, the teenager was also nominated for the WTA Player of the Year Award.
Gauff and Raducanu comfortably won their opening round matches at the Australian Open to confirm a much-anticipated match between the two. The French Open runner-up says she did not envy what Raducanu achieved at the US Open and felt inspired by it.
"Some people might think seeing Emma win the US Open at such a young age may have made me jealous or envious. It didn't. It was inspiring more than anything else."
"I can relate to bursting on to the scene and dealing with the pressure that follows, but I don't think that was anywhere near to the level of attention Emma received. With her being my age, I always try to reach out and when she picked up the ankle injury in Auckland I reached out to see how she was doing."- Gauff on her relationship with Raducanu
