"First rounds are always the most nerve wracking" - Gauff on surviving scare in Wimbledon opener

Coco Gauff was made to work hard in her opening match at the 2022 Wimbledon Championships, rallying from a set down to overcome Elena-Gabriela Ruse and advance to the second round.

The 18-year old recorded a 2-6 6-3 7-5 victory over her Romanian opponent, employing her entire arsenal of shots to defeat the World No.54.

"Elena played an amazing match,” Gauff said. “Both of us gave our heart. It was an electrifying match and I want to congratulate her on her tennis and her fight. I honestly like this court. It’s pretty loud but also intimate – you can hear every cheer and every gasp.

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"First rounds are always the most nerve wracking. In the middle of the first set I was freaking out a bit but I thought the worst that can happen is that I lose – it’s not the end of the world. And that’s when I started to play better.”

The Roland Garros runner-up looked relieved after the two-and-a-half hour encounter, and later admitted to rediscovering how to handle high-pressure situations.

"Getting out of trouble in matches is an art," she added. "What makes you a champion and gets you to that next level is how you figure out how to win in these tough moments.

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"I want the crowd and opponents watching me to always remember me as a fighter. Over my career, I kind of lost how to deal with the pressure a little bit. I feel like now I found it and I know that it's okay not to play your best tennis all the time."