America’s young tennis star
Coco Gauff believes she is
a ‘different player’ going into the
French Open 2024. The second Grand Slam of
the year will be played from May 26 to June 09 in the capital city of France, where players from all over the world will compete to secure the ultimate
prize.
Gauff, who will be amongst the favourites to lift the title in the women’s singles category, recently played in the
Rome Open. In the semifinal, she lost to current world number one
Iga Swiatek in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3.
Talking after the match, Gauff admitted that she lost to a
better player on the day but expressed satisfaction about her preparation for
the mega-event.
"Yeah, I think from the start of the clay till now, I
feel like my confidence is definitely very high,” she said. “Like, it sucks to
lose, but I know I lost playing the right way. I know that I'm a good player
and that I can do better in those moments. I think I'm just trusting myself and
my practice at that.
Coco Gauff lost in the semifinal of the Rome Open to current world number one Iga Swiatek.
“I think the way that I lost today, it wasn't because a wing
or a shot broke down, it's because she was the better player today. If I lose
matches like that, we go back and we practice. I think going into Roland
Garros, like if you asked me pretournament and now, I feel like I'm a different
player in terms of just how I've been playing."
Gauff has a good record at Roland Garros, where she has reached the quarterfinal or beyond in the last three editions. Her most impressive outing at the French Open came in 2022 when she finished as the runner-up after losing to Swiatek in the final in straight
sets with a score of 6-1, 6-3.