American teenager Coco Gauff is savouring an “emotional freshness” as she secures her first-ever spot in the US Open semi-finals, triumphing over Jelena Ostapenko.
Gauff, aged 19, displayed a dominant performance, defeating the 20th-seeded Latvian, Ostapenko, with a scoreline of 6-0, 6-2 in just 67 minutes. This achievement marks her best run at the tournament.
In her upcoming match, she will face Karolina Muchova, the French Open runner-up, with her sights set on reaching the final.
Reflecting on her past experiences in Grand Slams, Gauff acknowledged that emotional exhaustion had been an issue. However, she now feels both physically and emotionally rejuvenated, attributing this transformation to her accumulated experience.
A potential victory in this tournament would place Gauff in her second major singles final, mirroring her performance at the 2022 French Open, where she was ultimately defeated by Poland’s Iga Swiatek.
Gauff’s recent resurgence can be attributed to a successful North American hard-court campaign, where she clinched two of the WTA Tour’s most prestigious titles in Washington and Cincinnati.
After a disappointing first-round exit at Wimbledon, Gauff rebounded, thanks in part to the guidance of her new coach, Pere Riba, and consultant Brad Gilbert. Since her early July Wimbledon exit, she has secured 16 out of 17 victories.
Brad Gilbert, known for his coaching stints with tennis greats like Andy Murray and Andre Agassi, has played a pivotal role in Gauff’s resurgence. He emphasized the importance of enjoying the game and encouraged her to smile more on the court.
Gauff admitted that she wished she had embraced the fun aspects of tennis earlier. She used to believe that success required an ultra-serious and ultra-focused demeanour. However, she has now found a balance between dedication and enjoyment, leading to improved results.
This new outlook on tennis has allowed Gauff to reach the US Open semi-finals, marking a significant milestone in her young career.
Source: BBC Sports
