Serena Williams’ former coach Rene Stubbs has defended Coco Gauff after she faced criticism following her loss to Iga Swiatek at the 2023 China Open.
Swiatek had one of her best performances of the season, defeating Gauff 6-2, 6-3 in the WTA 1000 semifinals. With the win, the Pole ended the 19-year-old’s 16-match winning streak, which included titles at the Cincinnati Open and U.S. Open as well as in Beijing.
Gauff claimed her first WTA 1000 title with a win over Swiatek at the Cincinnati Open, but she lost to the Pole for the eighth time in nine matches.
Coco Gough was criticized on social media following the defeat, prompting Rene Stubbs to defend her. Stubbs expressed frustration at the negative comments directed at the 19-year-old.
She criticized those who made harsh judgments on players behind the security of anonymous profiles, having never experienced the pressures of professional tennis themselves.
“The bullshit I read on Twitter is 🤯! People commenting on Coco being one way or the other like every other player. Honestly people think you wrote it hard because you’re a faceless loser and belittle a player, But never put myself out there in a moment like this! 🤯 Get a life!” Stubbs posted.
Iga Swiatek says ‘it feels like I can play freely again’ after beating Coco Gauff at China Open
Iga Swiatek advances to his third WTA 1000 final of the season and seventh tour-level final in 2023 after defeating Coco Gauff in the China Open semifinals.
After winning, the Pole said she was able to compete “freely” again after a challenging period. She also emphasized that she intends to pass on the lessons of mental toughness throughout her career.
“It feels like I can play freely again. I haven’t felt that way in a while. For the rest of my career, I will remember that even though tough times may come; in your heart, you It’s always possible to overcome it,” the 22-year-old said. she said in an interview on the court.
The world number two is pleased with her change of attitude since losing to Jelena Ostapenko in the fourth round while defending her 2023 US Open title.
“With hard work you can achieve it. I’m glad I changed my attitude after the US Open. Hopefully I can keep this attitude as long as possible,” she added.
After defeating Coco Gauff, Iga Swiatek will take on Lyudmila Samsonova in the China Open final. Poland has a perfect 2-0 record against Russia, winning their most recent meeting in straight sets at the 2023 Dubai Tennis Championships.