"I have been very anxious about how well I was playing": Gauff admits imposter syndrome creeps into game

Coco Gauff has revealed that she sometimes suffers from impostor syndrome due to her achievements.

The 19-year-old tennis player is one of the strongest names in the WTA. She won her first title at the age of 15 in Linz in 2019 and has since remained at the forefront of tennis. Gauff has three singles titles, reached a Grand Slam final (losing to Swiatek at the French Open 2022), and participated in the WTA Finals, in addition to eight doubles titles, where she has already reached world No. 1.

However, Gauff commented on the WTA website that she sometimes feels impostor syndrome, which affects a person who, despite their successes, feels undeserving, generating great anxiety.

"When I go out on the court, I have a lot of self-confidence, but I think throughout my life, even when I was a junior and playing in tournaments, I have been very anxious about how well I was playing, and when I went out on the court, I really felt I could win the game,” said Gauff.

“I think it's just about fighting these thoughts and realizing that I belong here. Imposter Syndrome is a serious thing, so sometimes I feel it, but it's something I'm working on to understand that I'm here for a reason, that my ranking is here for a reason, and that I really deserve it," added the current World No. 6.

Coco Gauff also commented on the end of her coaching relationship with Diego Moyano a few weeks ago due to personal reasons on Moyano's part:

"I think with Diego I have become more effective on clay. The results prove it. I think I've gotten better at making decisions. I think I made better decisions on the court," she said.

Coco is seeded sixth at the Madrid Open and has a bye in the first round. In the second round, she will face the winner of the match between Kaia Kanepi and Shellby Rogers.