“I don’t want to lose matches like this anymore” – Gauff looks to get over mental hurdle about her serve
Gauff hit 19 double faults during her fourth round loss to Emma Navarro at the US Open on Sunday
Coco Gauff, US Open 2024
Image Credit: Chryslene Caillaud / Panoramic
In her own words, Coco Gauff did not have the summer she wanted. The 20-year-old American was knocked out of the US Open 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 in the fourth round on Sunday by compatriot Emma Navarro after struggling with her serve.
A total of 19 doubles faults played a major factor in the loss and in her press conference later, the American admitted she needed to get over the mental hurdle related to her serve and was open to looking at options such as a biomechanics coach like Aryna Sabalenka did.
“I definitely want to get other opinions because, you know, and also I think it’s sometimes more of an emotional, mental thing because if I go out on the practice court right now, I would make 30 serves in a row. I’ve done it before,” Gauff said. “I think it’s also just kind of a mental hurdle that I have to get over when it comes with that. But I definitely want to look at other things because I don’t want to lose matches like this anymore.”
Gauff also shared her thoughts about what she felt was going wrong with her serve. “I go down on my left side a lot on my serve, and it’s something I’m aware of, but it’s tough in the moment to I guess try not to do it.”
“Mentally I gave it and emotionally I gave it my all” – Gauff
This was the second Grand Slam in a row that Gauff was knocked out by Navarro. Navarro won their match at Wimbledon in straight sets and looked set to do the same on Sunday as she went up a set and a break.
However, Gauff fought back to claim the second set and force a decider before bowing out. The 2023 US Open champion said she was happy with her fightback and gave it her all mentally and emotionally.
“I fought really hard today. Overall, I think I played well for the most part. I just didn’t take care of my serve, so that was the biggest difference. Too many free points on my serve. Mentally I gave it and emotionally I gave it my all. Of course, there were things execution-wise, where obviously I wish I could serve better. I think if I would have did that, it would have been a different story for me in the match.
“From the ground, I felt like I was hitting better with each match honestly. I thought I was hitting both sides decently well. I didn’t return as well maybe in the first set and then even in the second, but I was able to find it. So, obviously I didn’t play the best throughout the match, but there were moments where I was playing good tennis. I think for me it’s just trying to find that more consistently. Mentally I gave it and emotionally I gave it my all.”
I expect better, but at the end of the day it happened, and I know I can turn it around.
Gauff said she was also trying to keep things in perspective after the loss, knowing that may other players would have been very happy to have the results that she has had.
“It’s not the summer that I want. I feel there are like 70 other players in the draw that would love to have the summer that I had even though it’s my least probably done well during this time of the year,” the American added. “So many people want to be in the fourth round. So many people want to make the Olympics. So many people want to be flag bearer. It’s perspective. Obviously because I’m wanting to reach a different level, it is disappointing, but I’m not going to beat myself up and be, like, this was so bad. I expect better, but at the end of the day it happened, and I know I can turn it around.”
Gauff admitted that she did not know what her schedule for the rest of the season would look like but would like to have a training block.
“I don’t know what my schedule will look like at the end of this year. I feel like I want to spend a good training block. I hadn’t had that since maybe before the clay season started,” Gauff said. “I think we’ll see how Asia goes, and we’ll see — obviously if I qualify (for the WTA Finals), I’ll play. I think for me in the long-term I definitely want to get a good training block, and I guess we’ll see how many tournaments I play for the rest of the year.”
