Gauff's 'extremely poor' performance ruffles feathers: Clement speaks up
ATPWednesday, 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.
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.
“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.”
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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