Coco Gauff has said that she is not pressuring herself ahead of the US Open but will instead just try to give it her all following her Cincinnati Open victory.
World No. 6 Gauff won her first WTA 1000 trophy in singles at the Western & Southern Open, defeating Karolina Muchova in the final. The 19-year-old broke her opponent three times in the first set alone and ultimately won the match confidently in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4.
This was Gauff's first final at this level, and her victory came just a day after she beat world No. 1 Iga Swiatek for the first time in her career. The American has now won three WTA titles this year, having won her first WTA 500 singles tournament just two weeks ago at the DC Open.
In her post-match press conference, Gauff was asked about the attention on her now that she would be heading into the US Open fresh from this victory in Cincinnati.
However, the teenager didn't seem to be stressed about it, saying she just wants to focus on her own path and do her best at the final Grand Slam of the year.
"Just embracing it [the attention] but also just focusing on your linear path. I think the biggest thing that I've learned is that everybody's path for you is not what's true, it's not what's going to happen. Even the path that you want for yourself may not happen.
"I believe in just, I don't know, you give it your all. That's all you can do. I'm going to give it my all in US Open. If things go great, that's exciting. If not, I go back and work hard and get ready for the next one. That's kind of the mentality you have to have," she said.
Furthermore, Gauff said that she has accepted there will be good and bad days on the court and that she wants to keep persevering when things go wrong.
"I can't control how I play. Today I couldn't control my serve. But that's the thing, for me, I try to tell myself literally the first point, I knew it was going to be a tough match, I was just, Just accept the good with the bad.
"I probably double-faulted the most I did in a while. That's accepting the good with the bad, just keep persevering. So that's what I'm going to do in US Open. I think this match really taught me a lot really just for maybe my whole career," she continued.
wow. what a week it has been! I won my biggest title to date two weeks ago and you know I had to double itttt😝 (tik tok joke) In all seriousness, I am so thankful for all the support cincy has given me this week. Thank you God for covering me. #WTA1000
