Coco Gauff’s US Open run got here to an finish on Monday afternoon in Flushing Meadows because the 21-year-old fell to Naomi Osaka in fourth-round motion inside Arthur Ashe Stadium. It was a match that failed to fulfill expectations, as Gauff hit 33 unforced errors and by no means noticed a break level. Gauff admitted afterwards that her efficiency fell in need of her expectations.
“It’s disappointing. For certain it was not the extent that I needed to carry, however it’s a step in the correct route I really feel, and I feel emotionally how a lot this week was, I feel at present I simply stepped in, and I possibly was a bit of bit empty,” Gauff stated. “She compelled me to earn each level on the market at present.”
Regardless of the sting of defeat, Gauff stays clear-eyed about her journey. She acknowledged the issue of navigating the summer season hard-court swing whereas striving to treatment deficiencies in her serve, and spoke candidly concerning the strain she feels to succeed at a younger age.
“I don’t know. I feel at present after I walked on the courtroom — and, I don’t know, I really feel like I put a lot strain on myself at my age at 21, and I notice how a lot the ladies on tour are being profitable at 25, 26, at these ages,” she stated. “For me it simply will get me excited to appreciate if I’ve 4 extra years of simply working as onerous as I’m proper now and really doing the correct issues, like the place my recreation may very well be.”
Gauff has nothing to be ashamed of—she has already captured two of the final 9 majors and stays one of many brightest younger stars in tennis. Relatively than resting on her laurels, she is dedicated to refining her recreation, significantly her serve, via continued work with biomechanics specialist Gavin MacMillan.
“It’s been a troublesome post-French Open for me,” Gauff stated. “I do know the enhancements that I must make, and I really feel like I’m making the correct determination by making them.”
She says she plans to take the deal with the remainder of the season as a warmup for the 2026 Australian Open, focusing little on outcomes and primarily on persevering with to develop her serve. ]
“I feel there’s a whole lot of positives to take from this match, and I’m attempting to be optimistic in entrance of you guys,” she stated. “I promise you that I don’t really feel that approach proper now, however I’m not going to let this crush me.
“I stay up for the long run and making extra enhancements. Yeah, hopefully subsequent yr I can develop loads as a participant and as an individual.”
