A year after Serena Williams bid a fond farewell to tennis in front of fans at Flushing Meadows, Coco Gauff dreams of continuing her legacy when the US Open kicks off next week The legend of the 23-time Grand Slam champion.
The 19-year-old from Florida grew up idolizing the now-retired Williams, and after a series of impressive results on the WTA Tour’s North American hard courts, she harbored hopes of achieving her first Grand Slam. The realistic hope of winning the championship embarks on the journey to New York.
She won her second title of the season at the Washington Open in early August, then reached the quarterfinals at the Canadian Open and last weekend scored a breakthrough victory in Cincinnati, her first WTA 1000 titles.
2023 US Open Women’s Draw: Swiatek vs Goff, Sabalenka vs Jabr expected to advance to quarterfinals
That win in Cincinnati also included a semifinal victory over world No. 1 and reigning U.S. Open champion Iga Swiatek – the first time Gauff has defeated Poland’s four-time Grand Slam singles champion in eight games.
Gauff’s performances over the past month suggest the teenager is finally ready to shine in the rigors of a Grand Slam tennis tournament, four years after she reached the fourth round at Wimbledon on 15 strokes to announce herself. global stage. year-old qualifiers.
The world No. 6 says her recent success is based on learning how to win, even when she’s not playing her best tennis.
“I think that’s what makes a champion — how you perform on the days when you don’t feel so good,” she said after her victory in Cincinnati.
Goff later revealed that earlier this season she spent “a lot of nights crying at home” as she struggled to find her groove.
“For me, it’s difficult because I know what I need to improve on,” Goff said.
“I was practicing and working on it. It just didn’t translate into the game. “It can still get better and that’s something I want to improve on. “
– Progress upward –
If Gauff continues her upward trajectory over the next two weeks, she could very well become the first to go public, joining Serena and Venus Williams, Sloane Stephens and Naomi Osaka. The fifth black woman in the tournament era to win the U.S. Open.
As Serena Williams leaves the stage, Gauff is acutely aware that she is viewed by many as the most likely standard-bearer for the next generation of African-American women’s tennis players.
Serena Williams greets the crowd after losing to Ajla Tomljanovic in the third round of the 2022 US Open. | Photo source: Associated Press
It’s a responsibility the teen embraces, even if she doesn’t believe she can compare to Serena Williams.
“I don’t take it lightly,” Goff said.
“Sometimes I think it adds to the pressure because I know that this community, people of color, the black community look up to me so much.
“Especially with Serena retiring, people think of me as the next leader or the leader in tennis.
“I’m not going to put myself in that box because Serena is the GOAT for a reason. This is ‘The Greatest of All Time.’ I’m a part of it all, so I don’t know if I can be like her To go that far. That’s the dream.
“For me, I just try to be the best version of myself and be the best Coco I can be on and off the court. “I try to pay attention to my performance and the causes that I support off the court. “
However, sixth seed Gauff’s road to the championship in New York will not be easy. The American player will face off against defending champion Swiatek in the quarterfinals. 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina is also in the draw alongside Gauff.