After achieving her goal of winning the Roland Garros title, Coco Gauff is determined not to let this milestone affect her motivation as she prepares for Wimbledon and the rest of the tennis season. The 21-year-old American is focused on maintaining her drive by deliberately choosing to move past the Grand Slam triumph and concentrate on upcoming challenges.
This approach reflects Gauff’s understanding that lingering on past victories could dampen her competitive edge, especially with two more Grand Slams still available to contest this season. Her priority remains to build on her momentum while staying mentally fresh and hungry for success.
Season Overview: From Early Struggles to Grand Slam Glory
Gauff’s 2024 season started unevenly. After reaching the quarterfinals at the Australian Open, she struggled to find consistent form in the subsequent five tournaments. Despite these setbacks, she showcased resilience by advancing to the Madrid Open final, where she was defeated by Aryna Sabalenka.
Continuing her hard-fought clay-court campaign, Gauff reached the final of the Italian Open but fell short against home favorite Jasmine Paolini, leaving her first title of the year just out of reach. However, her efforts culminated in a breakthrough at Roland Garros, where she won a thrilling final match against Sabalenka, seizing one of the most prestigious trophies in tennis.
“I’m kind of trying to forget about winning Roland Garros, honestly. Just to stay motivated. After I won the US Open, I was like, ‘I won the US Open, the season is almost over, I’m pretty happy.’ I don’t want to go into the rest of the season with that mindset, especially since there are two other Grand Slams I can definitely win.” —Coco Gauff, on the Nice Talk podcast
Preparing for the Grass Season with Focus and Determination
With the clay season behind her, Gauff has shifted attention to the grass-court swing, beginning her campaign in Berlin. Grass remains uncharted territory for the young champion, as she has yet to claim a title on this surface and has never advanced beyond the fourth round at Wimbledon.
In three previous attempts at Wimbledon, Gauff’s best results have been reaching the fourth round, including last year when she was eliminated by American Emma Navarro. The upcoming Grand Slam presents an opportunity for her to improve upon these results and continue her progress on grass.
Gauff’s Past Performances at Roland Garros and in Doubles
Before her Roland Garros victory this year, Gauff had previously reached the French Open singles final in 2022 but lost to four-time champion Iga Swiatek. Nevertheless, she found success in doubles last year, winning the French Open title alongside Katerina Siniakova by defeating Italian duo Jasmine Paolini and Sara Errani.
Managing Emotions: Key to Gauff’s Success Against Aryna Sabalenka
The Roland Garros final was a tense battle where Sabalenka initially took an early lead, advancing to 4-1 in the first set. However, Gauff battled back to force a tie-breaker, displaying remarkable composure throughout. While Sabalenka became visibly frustrated, even shouting at her coaching box, Gauff remained calm and focused.
Sabalenka’s inability to control her emotions contributed to her decline, as she committed 70 unforced errors compared to Gauff’s 30. After the match, Sabalenka acknowledged regrets over controversial remarks she made about Gauff and admitted that emotional control had cost her in previous finals.
Former Serena Williams coach Patrick Mouratoglou praised Gauff’s emotional strength, emphasizing its role in competitive success. He stated on Instagram:
“Being able to do with your emotions is part of what makes you victorious or not. Coco was 10 times better than Sabalenka at dealing with her emotions. And fighting spirit, it’s another level. I don’t see anyone like her, not one. At some point, Aryna did not want to miss any more. She started to slow down and when she slowed down, Coco stepped in, and boom.” —Patrick Mouratoglou
Potential Rematch and Berlin Open Prospects
Gauff’s head-to-head record against Sabalenka now stands at 6-5 in her favor. Both players are entered in the Berlin Open, raising the possibility of another high-stakes encounter if they reach the final stage. Gauff will face the winner of the first-round match between Daria Kasatkina and Wang Xinyu, while Sabalenka will open her campaign against Rebeka Masarova from Switzerland.
Like Gauff, Sabalenka is yet to secure a grass-court title and will be eager to add Berlin to her list of triumphs. She has enjoyed a successful 2024 season so far, reaching seven finals and winning titles in Brisbane, Miami, and Madrid. At Wimbledon, she was a semifinalist in both 2021 and 2023 but missed last year’s tournament due to injury.
What Lies Ahead for Coco Gauff
With the Roland Garros victory behind her, Coco Gauff’s determination to “forget” the achievement demonstrates a mature mindset focused on continued growth and success. As she embarks on the grass-court season starting in Berlin and later competes at Wimbledon, her ability to maintain motivation will be crucial in pursuing further Grand Slam titles.
Her progress so far in 2024, overcoming earlier challenges and demonstrating resilience in emotionally charged matches, places her among the sport’s top contenders. Observers will be watching closely as Gauff aims to build on her current achievements and solidify her place among tennis’ elite.