Image source: Instagram/@cocogauff
As Coco Gauff prepares to defend her U.S. Open title, she faces the challenge of rediscovering her top form. The 20-year-old tennis star aims to become the first woman to secure back-to-back U.S. Open victories since Serena Williams’ three-peat from 2012 to 2014.
Coco Gauff’s journey to this point has been rocky. After a disappointing summer, she seeks to turn things around. At Wimbledon, she was ousted in the fourth round by Emma Navarro, and at the Olympics, she fell in the third round to Donna Vekic, who eventually claimed the silver medal.
Her struggles continued in Toronto, where she was defeated by Diana Shnaider in the third round. In Cincinnati, where she was the defending champion, Gauff struggled with nine double faults and lost to Yulia Putintseva in the second round.
Despite these setbacks, Gauff is determined to find her rhythm in New York. She’ll face Varvara Gracheva from France in her opening match. Gracheva, ranked 66th in the world, is considered a minor opponent, as she has been eliminated in the first round of the U.S. Open for the past two years. Gauff previously defeated Gracheva 6-1, 6-1 in Auckland earlier this year.
Coco Gauff’s last U.S. Open performance saw her clinch her first Grand Slam title by overcoming Aryna Sabalenka. Tennis fans have high expectations, and Coco Gauff shares this ambition. However, she acknowledges her career is just beginning. “I have time,” Gauff reflects. “I want to win now, but I realize I have another decade ahead in this sport. I want to enjoy it.”
As the tournament progresses, other top players will also be in action. Second-seeded Aryna Sabalenka will face Priscilla Hon of Australia. Eighth seed Barbora Krejcikova, the Wimbledon champion, will compete against Marina Bassols Ribera from Spain. Top seed Iga Swiatek, the 2022 U.S. Open champion, will start her campaign against Kamilla Rakhimova of Russia.
With Coco Gauff looking to overcome her recent struggles and recapture her winning form, the U.S. Open promises to be an exciting showcase of tennis talent.
