Coco Gauff was on the cusp of admitting defeat against Clara Burel at Indian Wells: "Could have easily thrown in the towel"

From 4-0 and 5-2 down in the final set, Coco Gauff escaped up the road just about against Clara Burel at Indian Wells to reach the third round where she will face Lucia Bronzetti. Albeit the American admitted she was close to throwing in the towel.

Sealing a 2-6, 6-3, 7-6(4) win, she said she had to keep herself motivated and with a mission in mind to stop herself being down and giving the match away. But as Burel faded, Gauff took advantage and didn't succumb to another crushing defeat after recent poor losses to Katerina Siniakova in particular and also Anna Kalinskaya.

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Her doubles partner Jessica Pegula on the other hand did not fare as good being dumped out by Anna Blinkova and both were very much close to only playing doubles for the remainder of the tournament.

"I think for me it's just getting through that match definitely meant a lot. Could have easily thrown in the towel. But honestly, I was just telling myself, like, win or lose, I don't want to have any regrets on the court. I want to be like I gave myself the best opportunity to win, and I did that," Coco Gauff said in her post-match press conference.

"Am I proud of how I played? Not really, to be honest, but the fight, I am proud of. I am eager to improve. I think it wasn't my best tennis at all. I think I just have a lot of improvement that I can do to get better."

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Coco Gauff becomes the first teenager to win 50 matches at WTA 1000 level. Star girl. 🇺🇸❤️

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