Following her unexpected early exit from Wimbledon, Coco Gauff expressed confidence about reclaiming her form at the US Open. “I don’t want to dwell too long because I want to do well at US Open,” she claimed – treating this setback as an opportunity for renewal and reset. After Wimbledon she competed at Canadian Open but was defeated by Victoria Moboko; then looked forward to redemption at Cincinnati Open with high expectations of success.
Gauff set off in Cincinnati Open with full resolve, likening her effort to pushing an “nitro button”. She demonstrated this prowess in an easy win against Xinyu Wang before Dayana Yastremska withdrew and advanced further. A win against Lucia Bronzetti ensued before her campaign came to a close against Jasmine Paolini in the quarterfinals.
Despite her defeat, Gauff remained positive, sharing a reflective message about her experience at Cincinnati on her Instagram. This setback brings her head-to-head record against Paolini to a 3-2 disadvantage, marking Paolini’s first hard court victory over the American amidst their encounters.
Jasmine Paolini Reflects on Victory
The match against Gauff wasn’t straightforward for Paolini, who fought back from a set down to clinch the victory. Despite suffering a fall and injuring her ankle, she managed to break Gauff’s serve and ultimately secure a spot in the semifinals, proving her resilience and tactical prowess on the court. She described the match as “so tough” but credited her staying power and fighting spirit for the win.
Following Gauff’s retirement, Iga Swiatek could potentially see her ranking rise considerably during the US Open. Former tennis professional Chanda Rubin expressed concerns regarding Gauff’s confidence and readiness for such intense matches; particularly after witnessing recent performances by Gauff.
Gauff has enjoyed an outstanding year at tennis, winning 35 out of 47 matches including her impressive victory at the French Open. Now at US Open she hopes to add another major title win and extend her impressive campaign.