Hey there, fellow tennis enthusiasts It’s your girl Mia Johnson-Carter from Miami, and I’m super excited to share the latest scoop from the world of tennis. Right now, everyone’s buzzing about Coco Gauff’s incredible performance at the Wuhan Open. Let’s dive into what’s making her run so special.
Coco Gauff has been on fire since her win at the WTA 1000 tournament in Beijing last week. She recently continued her fine form with a notable 6-4, 6-1 round-of-16 win over 13th-seeded Marta Kostyuk. This victory marked her eighth consecutive win, showcasing her remarkable consistency and skill on the court. Gauff’s dominance is not just about her winning streak; it’s also about how she’s handling the pressure and expectations that come with it.
“I think going into Wuhan, I feel no pressure, no anything, just because Beijing, it’s over, it’s in the past,” Gauff explained during a press conference. “When you’re coming into this tournament, if you look at some of the players who made the semifinal, almost all of them, except me and Qinwen, pulled out because it’s such a quick turnaround.” This mindset is crucial for her performance, as she emphasizes the importance of focusing on each match rather than worrying about past achievements or future expectations.
Gauff is set to face 45th-ranked Magda Linette in the quarterfinals. Their previous encounter dates back to 2021 when Gauff, just 17 at the time, edged out Linette 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 in the US Open first round. Despite Linette’s inconsistency this year, she has still managed to make two finals and win one title. Moreover, she has already beaten two seeded players at Wuhan – Liudmila Samsonova and Daria Kasatkina.
When asked if she remembers their last match, Gauff took a moment to recall it. “Yeah, I remember it now. Yeah, I kind of remember (smiling). I don’t know. I won’t take anything from that match; it’s so long ago. I practiced with her multiple times in between. She lives in south Florida. So she’s a tough opponent. We haven’t played since then. I really don’t know what to expect. But just from watching her play, she’s been playing a great couple of matches here in Wuhan. I expect it to be a tough match. She’s not an easy opponent to play,” the American said.
Gauff also addressed the weather conditions in Wuhan, noting that while it was hotter than Beijing, she was accustomed to high temperatures and humid conditions from growing up in Florida. “It’s definitely hotter here in Wuhan. But I’m from Florida, so honestly before we left, it was so hot in Florida, I was dying every practice, going through multiple shirts and everything. So coming here, it feels like Florida in the winter. It’s something I’m very used to,” she explained.
Coco Gauff’s journey has been remarkable, especially considering her recent changes in coaching. After not having a great summer at Wimbledon, the US Open, and the Paris Olympics, she fired coach Brad Gilbert and added coach Matt Daly to her team. In their first tournament together, Gauff ended her title drought and won a trophy for the first time since winning Auckland in January. By beating Karolina Muchova in the Beijing final, Gauff made history as the first player in the Open Era to have won all of her seven hard-court finals.
If Gauff reaches the Wuhan final and claims the main glory, she will also collect back-to-back WTA 1000 titles for the first time in her career. This achievement would solidify her position as one of the top contenders in women’s tennis.
Image: In-form Coco Gauff makes one thing clear amid strong Wuhan run
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