"We spoke till 1am": Coco Gauff used call to boyfriend to calm nerves and stop visualising US Open title before Sabalenka win
WTAMonday, 11 September 2023 at 05:30
Coco Gauff
revealed that she spoke with her coach late into the night to calm her nerves
before the US Open final against Aryna Sabalenka.
The
19-year-old American had two dream weeks at Flushing Meadows, culminating in
her first Grand Slam title with a comeback victory over Sabalenka in the final,
winning 2-6, 6-3, 6-2.
This marked
Coco's second Grand Slam final appearance, following her defeat in the 2022
French Open final against Iga Swiatek. Gauff shared that she had overthought
things in the Roland Garros final and aimed to avoid making the same mistake
this time.
"Honestly,
I didn't have any of those visions till last night. You know, I thought about
it, but I told myself to get it out of my head, because that's what I did at
French. I was envisioning, you know, what would happen if I would win. I think
I wanted it too much," Gauff said.
"Last
night, I started a little bit, but honestly, I just called my boyfriend, and I
told him let's talk until it's time to go to sleep so we spoke until 1:00 a.m.
and then I went to sleep," she added.
"When
I lost the first set I still felt I was into the match and I said, you know,
I'm going to give it my all. Even on that match point, 40-Love, technically the
match was on my racket. It didn't feel like I had won. I was just trying to
just focus on the point ahead of me," Coco Gauff concluded.
Starting
Monday, the 19-year-old will achieve the highest ranking of her career,
becoming the new world No. 3, trailing only Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek.
Additionally, she secured her spot in the WTA Finals, where, along with the
aforementioned players, Elena Rybakina is also guaranteed to participate.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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