Last month, it was made official that 22-year-old Ben Shelton would join WTA doubles World No.1 Taylor Townsend for mixed doubles at New York. Townsend expressed excitement upon hearing of their partnership; their dynamic rapport was highlighted on Instagram. Meanwhile, another notable American player Coco Gauff opted out due to personal considerations while she competed at Cincinnati.
Coco Gauff was on an unpredictable streak at Montreal last week, leading to an unusually high number of double faults during her matches. But at Cincinnati Open she managed to rebound nicely against Wang Xinyu with scores of 6-3 and 6-2 to clinch an exciting 70 minute match win that allowed Gauff to discuss why she decided not to participate in US Open doubles this year.
After her win in Cincinnati, Gauff shared insights into her choice, highlighting the pre-scheduled commitments and the competitive nature that prohibits her from being content with potential loss. She pointed out the careful consideration that went into preserving her mental health and avoiding additional stress due to an already packed agenda filled with sponsor commitments. Gauff also hinted at the impracticality of the schedule, with the tournament finishing closely before another likely game, underlining the delicate balance she strives to maintain between her professional engagements and competitive aspirations.
Despite opting out from the mixed doubles, Gauff’s victory over Xinyu marked a significant rebound from a less favorable outcome they had in Berlin two months prior. Furthermore, she reflected on her journey in Cincinnati, recalling the hurdles she faced during the Canadian Open but demonstrating a newfound trust in her gameplay and mental fortitude.
Gauff emphasized the value of believing in oneself and moving forward regardless of past performances. Her success at WTA 1000 events proved not only significant to her mental resilience but also confirmed she remains one of the most consistent opening match performers at such high stakes tournaments.
Gauff is ready for new challenges as she progresses in Cincinnati, with Dayana Yastremska as one of her opponents. However, as she faces these competitions her focus remains on capitalizing on recent success to set an uplifting foundation for American Tennis Season and ensure a promising performance during future matches.