American tennis star
Coco Gauff has expressed optimism that
she will bounce back after a recent debacle in Doha.
The 19-year-old is often regarded as one of the most highly-rated
players currently playing in the women’s singles category. Gauff had a poor
start to her 2024 season as she was first knocked out of the Australian Open
after losing in the semifinal to the current world number two Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka
with a score of 7-6, 6-4.
Things did not improve for her as she went on to lose in the
second round of the
Qatar Open to the Czech Republic’s Katerina Siniakova with
a score of 6-2, 6-4.
Gauff was recently quoted in a report where she expressed
optimism that she will be able to bounce back from the disappointment in Doha
in the upcoming event in Dubai.
"In Doha, I lost in the first match because I didn't
play very well,” she said. “Maybe if I had played better and still lost, it
would be different. It is in these moments that we must know how to maintain a
sense of proportion.
"For example, if after a loss you feel like you need to
skip a tournament, do it. In my case, I will always try to play as much as
possible, as long as I am healthy.
"I hope to have a better week here," Gauff said
with a laugh, adding, "I'm not too upset about my last loss either, it was
just a bad day at work, I'm not going to let that determine how things go for
me this week."
Gauff, who won her maiden Grand Slam last year while playing
on her home soil, will begin her campaign in the WTA 1000 event Dubai Duty Free
Championship with a match against Italy’s Elisabetta Cocciaretto in the round
of 32 on Tuesday.