The tennis community is trying to determine the reasons behind Coco Gauff’s decline. While some believe she is lacking concentration, others point fingers at her coach, Brad Gilbert, suggesting that he failed to correct her serve and form. Although there is no concrete evidence to support these claims, Gauff faces another challenge in Cincinnati. The newly released draw poses a significant threat to her title defense.
Despite the initial excitement to follow Gauff’s journey through the North American hard court season, it appears that she has a tough road ahead as the US Open champion. Her first match in the tournament is against Yulia Putintseva, who did not participate in the Canadian Open but is expected to be a formidable opponent.
If Gauff manages to emerge victorious, her next match will be against either Peyton Stearns or Anna Kalinskaya. Kalinskaya, who is currently in a relationship with Jannik Sinner, has had a commendable season, reaching the finals in Dubai and Berlin. Stearns should also not be underestimated due to her impressive performance in Morocco recently.
While these early matches may be manageable, the true test will come in the quarterfinals. Either Qinwen Zheng or Ons Jabeur will be prepared to challenge Gauff. Zheng, in particular, is in excellent form, having recently won gold at the Paris Olympics by defeating notable opponents like Iga Swiatek.
Gauff has recently experienced a series of disappointing performances. In the third round of the WTA Canadian Open, she suffered a setback at the hands of Russia’s Diana Shnaider, who emerged victorious with a score of 6-4, 6-1. This defeat came as a major surprise considering Gauff’s position as the world’s number two ranked player and her status as a tournament favorite. Additionally, she was eliminated early in the Paris Olympics by Donna Vekic.
The 20-year-old tennis prodigy herself has acknowledged that her lack of confidence and focus has been a significant issue. Following her loss in Canada, Gauff expressed her doubts about whether she should have participated in the tournament, stating, “Sometimes I question whether I should have played or not. But ultimately, I wanted to challenge myself and see how I would fare when mentally fatigued and physically exhausted.”
Furthermore, Gauff voiced her disappointment with her performance, admitting, “I had low expectations going into the tournament, but I still wish I could have competed better today, even if it meant losing. I don’t believe I performed up to par.” She recognizes the need for improvement. With the Cincinnati Open on the horizon, all eyes will be on Gauff to observe if she can overcome her recent setbacks and defend her title. However, this poses a significant challenge for her as well.
At the young age of 20, Gauff has already established herself as one of the premier players in the world of tennis. Within the past 11 months, she has claimed a Grand Slam victory and ascended to the top of the global rankings. This success has made her a target for other competitors, and she feels the pressure of everyone giving their utmost effort to defeat her. Recently, Gauff faced a tough match against Wang Yafan, who holds the 72nd spot in the world rankings.
Although Gauff emerged triumphant with a score of 6-4, 6-4, Wang put up a strong fight, turning the game into a challenging battle. Despite the young WTA star’s best efforts throughout the ongoing season, she has encountered unexpected losses in her past two tournaments, resulting in inconsistent form. She was eliminated in the round of 16 by Donna Vekic at the Paris Olympics and suffered a defeat at the hands of Emma Navarro at Wimbledon.
Gauff discussed the difficulties of being a top-ranked player, stating, “Yeah, it’s definitely challenging. I feel like often, opponents bring their A-game when facing higher-ranked players because they have nothing to lose. It’s definitely a different dynamic. However, I believe it ultimately makes me a better player. If everyone is performing at their peak level against me, it can only enhance my skills.”
Photo from Coco Gauff Instagram
