Despite being just 19 years old, Coco Gauff’s evolution to the top has heralded a change in the way tennis is played. From being a rich man’s sport that middle-aged athletes dominated, we are now witnessing a black girl from Delray Beach emulate her icons through winning successive games.
A dip in form at the start of the year saw Coco struggle to come to terms with the tribunals of elite tennis. However, a mindset shift enabled the teenager to turn things around midseason, and she has not looked back since, toppling top players and winning grand slams along the way.
Coco Gauff talks about her win at China Open
After a triumphant fortnight at the US Open, where she entertained fans and celebrities alike, Coco Gauff ensured her break from tennis would boost her confidence ahead of her imminent participation in the China Open.
In Beijing, she surged ahead of unseeded opponents in the first two rounds before facing 16th seeded Russian Veronika Kudermetova in the round of 16. The pair had met twice earlier, with both winning one match apiece. Veronika, a giant killer, has made life miserable for many top-ten players in the past.
And she proved to be a thorn in Coco’s battle for supremacy by racing to a 5-4, 40-0 lead in the first set. A match point down and a lot of ground to regain didn’t perturb Coco much, as she spectacularly sprung back into form and won the first set. The second set proved much easier for Coco, as she ended up winning nine of the last 12 games.
Speaking after the match, Coco Gauff cut a relieved look as she commented on her return-from-the-brink performance.
“I fought off some set points. She was playing really good tennis. I think she was striking the ball well, returning well. I was able to raise my game & keep going after the first set.”, she said.
Coco Gauff after beating Veronika Kudermetova in Beijing:
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) October 5, 2023
“I fought off some set points. She was playing really good tennis. I think she was striking the ball well, returning well. I was able to raise my game & keep going after the first set." pic.twitter.com/xVfOrAVaKo
Coco Gauff is set to face 6th-seeded Greek tennis player Maria Sakkari in the quarterfinals on Friday.
Details on Coco Gauff’s winning streak
Coco Gauff’s recent uptick in form is no bolt from the blue. In fact, it was a calculated attempt at reworking her mentality and fitness that enabled her to go on a remarkable winning streak.
Her last loss on the tennis court was on August 12th 2023, when she lost to Jessica Pegula in the Canadian Open. Since then, she sped past opponents in her triumphant journey towards becoming the Cincinnati Open champion and US Open winner.
Her last 3 victories in China have pushed her winning streak to 15. She has won 21 of her last 22 matches.
Gauff d. Kudermetova 7-6(5) 6-2
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) October 5, 2023
Coco was down 5-4, 40-0 before winning 9 of the last 12 games
Winning has become a reflex for Coco these days.
✅15 match win streak
✅Won 21 of last 22 matches
We’ve met Coco the Grand Slam Champion.
Meet Coco the Mental Giant.
🇺🇸❤️ pic.twitter.com/V9PC3lzjAS
Now 3 steps away from sealing her maiden China Open title, the American could entertain thoughts of being amongst players like Serena Williams, Iga Swiatek and Stefi Graf in the list of longest winning streaks ever in women’s tennis. She is a far way off from the top 10, but every game won would reinforce the belief in her that anything is possible.
How impressive is Coco Gauff’s run in the past few months? From a first round Wimbledon loss, she has gone on to win the US Open. Let us know your thoughts on Coco in the comments section below.
