Coco Gauff jokingly acknowledged that a huge crowd that watched her win in the round of 16 at the Cincinnati Masters was actually meant for Novak Djokovic.
Gauff comfortably progressed to the quarter-finals in Cincinnati after she beat fellow teenager Linda Noskova in straight sets. The 19-year-old completed the match in front of a near-capacity crowd on centre court that was cheering her on throughout the contest.
However, in her post-match interview on the court, Gauff believed that the spectators were actually attending in large numbers for a different reason. The American's last 16 clash came before a big ATP match between veteran players Djokovic and Gael Monfils, which Gauff joked was the main event instead of her match.
"It’s even more crowded than my first match yesterday. Probably because Novak Djokovic’s after me, to be honest… and Gael! And Gael too. But you know, I am glad that you guys are cheering for me tonight."
"I feel like, you know, when I played the first night match and there’s like, you know, the big star after me, I feel like I am the opening act,”
Gauff's progression to the Cincinnati Masters quarter-finals followed a previous victory over Mayar Sherif and a first-round bye. As a home player, the world number five has attracted big crowds in Cincinnati, who have cheered her on throughout the tournament so far.
Although, when the 19-year-old addressed the Djokovic match as the biggest attraction, she was met with huge cheers from spectators on centre court. Gauff then paid tribute to Djokovic and said she hoped to replicate his success someday.
"No, no, no. It feels like that. I mean, come on. The guy has I don’t know how many Grand Slams. I am at zero right now, So, I am the opening act, but maybe one day I’ll be the main act,"
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