Coco Gauff feeling relaxed in Rome following quick-fire win over Putintseva – “I’m just accepting it for what it is”
Coco Gauff is ready to put the disappointment of Madrid behind her, as she gears up for a big month on the home stretch of the clay-court swing
By her own high standards, Coco Gauff has had an underwhelming clay-court season so far this year. Prior to the Italian Open, Gauff had won two and lost two of her four singles matches, having gone out in the second round of both the Stuttgart Open and Madrid – both of those losses were one-sided defeats, with the American hitting more than 50 unforced errors in her loss to Anastasia Potapova in Germany.
Despite continued excellence on the doubles court with Jessica Pegula, a partnership that brought the pair a third WTA doubles final this season at the Madrid Open, Gauff’s singles journey this year has been far more fluctuating.
A mature and grounded Coco Gauff
It is often easy to forget just how young the Atlantan native is. Still only 19 years of age, Gauff already feels like a well-established and seasoned WTA player. This is primarily down to the fact that she was only 15 when she caught the attention of the tennis world by storming to the fourth round of Wimbledon in 2019, defeating Venus Williams along the way.
But it is also testament to how composed and mature this young woman is, both on and off the court, that her age still manages to surprise. At such a tender age, she has already used her platform to speak out about numerous civil rights issues, and remains one of the most level-headed competitors on tour.
Gauff’s progress has been steady since that breakthrough Wimbledon run, moulded by an impressive work ethic, and a healthy family environment that helps keep the young American grounded.
A turbulent month ahead of the Italian Open
However, there can be no denying that the past few weeks have been difficult for Gauff. After a promising start to the season during which she won her third WTA singles title, things have stalled somewhat in the past month or so.
Gauff has spoken openly about how much the heavy defeat to Badosa in Madrid had hurt her, and the extent to which she was struggling on court, saying: “I feel like I didn’t have fun on the court. Even when I was still in the match in the first set, I feel like I was very stressed. I think it showed.”
I want to make sure (the next coach is) someone I get along with, my team gets along with
Coco Gauff
It is likely not a coincidence that Gauff’s dip in form comes at roughly the same time as her coach, Diego Moyano, abruptly ended their partnership due to personal reasons. The American has been travelling with her father for the past month, as he interviews candidates for the position as her full-time coach.
“I want to make sure it’s someone I get along with, my team gets along with. That can be fun,” Gauff said, when asked about her search for a new coach. “Some coaches are a brick wall and are worse for some players. I can’t have that. I’m very serious, too, on the court. It’s not like I’m goofing around all the time. It’s more so the off-court way of life. I want to make sure I get along with him.”
In the meantime, however, it appears there is a silver lining to the ongoing search for a coach. Gauff has been seen practising with Patrick Mouratoglou in Rome this week, someone who has coached the young American before when he has been able to. It is a partnership that has reaped rewards for Gauff in the past and gives her extra impetus at the Italian Open.
The road to Roland-Garros
Her response to that defeat in Madrid has been emphatic. The teenage American only needed 59 minutes to dispatch her Kazakh opponent, Yulia Putintseva, in what was a devastating display of ball-striking ability.
Rather than going into her shell following such a bruising loss the week prior, Gauff has arrived in Rome looking fresh, on form, and meaning business.
“I feel like last week was a little bit of a low for me. I feel like when you are coming from a low, you can only go up,” Gauff told the press following her quickfire win.
“This week I’m just accepting it for what it is. If I try to win the point or lose the point making the right decision, I think I have to be satisfied with that”
Coco Gauff feeling positive at the Italian Open after a difficult few weeks
Gauff faces what could be a season-defining month ahead of her. Just under a year ago, the then-18-year-old achieved what remains her career milestone in reaching the final of Roland-Garros. She will need to reach the next round in Rome and the final in Paris just to ensure parity with points accrued at this stage last year.
With the current standard at the top of the WTA rising each week with the likes of Rybakina, Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek all pushing each other to greater heights, the danger is that promising young talent such as Gauff gets left behind.
The next month or so will be challenging. For a young woman as mature and hard-working as Gauff, however, no one should be too concerned.
There is little doubt that her future will be very bright.
