Gauff's 'extremely poor' performance ruffles feathers: Clement speaks up

Wednesday, 24 January 2024 at 09:15

Former world No. 10 Arnaud Clement criticized the "extremely poor" level of Coco Gauff in her quarterfinal victory at the 2024 Australian Open over Marta Kostyuk. The former French tennis player commented on the match on Eurosport and expressed surprise at the low level of play from both competitors.

Kostyuk, a 21-year-old, displayed more aggression throughout the match, tallying 39 winners and committing 56 unforced errors, while Gauff recorded 17 winners and 51 unforced errors. This means that 44% of the points played ended with an error from one of the players.

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The serving percentages for both players were also low. The Ukrainian achieved a 51% first-serve percentage and won 54% of those points, compared to Gauff's 54% first-serve percentage, of which she won 59%. Additionally, 16 of the games (50%) ended in breaks of serve.

Former world No. 10 Clement highlighted the unusual aspect of witnessing a quarterfinal match at a Grand Slam with so many errors: “I rarely commented on a match of this quality at this stage of the competition,” he said.

“It was really very surprising. We are not going to put the two players in the same bag. Kostyuk took a lot of risks, she had success, she made a lot of unforced errors. Opposite, Coco Gauff did nothing the entire game,” the 2001 Australian Open finalist assessed.

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“She could have lost this meeting. And just when we tell ourselves that it’s okay, that she’s back from 1–5 to the first, that she’s going to relax, she tenses up again. At no time did she manage to free herself. Tennis-wise, it was extremely poor.

“Frankly, I have rarely commented on a match of this quality at this stage of the competition. We will need a very, very big reaction from Coco Gauff in the next match because if she plays like this, it will be very quick whoever her opponent is.”

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When the going gets tough, the tough get going. Coco Gauff won this match from 1-5 and *2-5 30-40 down in the first set. She hit 17 winners and 51 unforced errors, but won it the ugly way. Lot of grit and mental strength.

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6:12 AM · Jan 23, 2024

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Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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