After an impressive clay court season highlighted by reaching three finals and winning Roland Garros, 21-year-old Coco Gauff faced challenges on grass, suffering first-round exits in Berlin and Wimbledon. Her disappointing Wimbledon departure was part of a rare occurrence in Grand Slam history, where both the second seed Gauff and third seed Jessica Pegula were eliminated in the opening round, marking a first in the Open Era.
At a Cincinnati press conference following her straight-set loss, Gauff shared candidly about her mindset after the Wimbledon setback. She described the emotional highs and lows of tennis, explaining that after the defeat she disconnected from her phone and spent three days in Florida, reconnecting with nature to help reset.
“I’m someone who goes full throttle, so I was very disappointed after that match. I told my parents that tennis is tough because you can experience an incredible high and then feel completely empty two weeks later. After the defeat, I turned off my phone and spent three days at the Florida springs, just to connect with nature and reset completely…”
—Coco Gauff, Professional Tennis Player
Mixed Results on the North American Hard Courts
Starting the North American hard court swing as the top seed at the Canadian Open, Gauff’s singles campaign was cut short by Victoria Mboko, who won in straight sets during the fourth round. Despite her early singles exit, Gauff’s performance raised eyebrows due to an unusually high number of 52 double faults across three matches.
Gauff arrived at the Cincinnati tournament aiming to rebuild momentum. She is matched to face either Emiliana Arango or Xin Wang in the opening round, returning to a venue where she claimed the title two years ago by defeating Karolina Muchova in the final.
Success in Doubles with McCartney Kessler in Montreal
While singles results proved frustrating, Gauff excelled in doubles at the Canadian Open, partnering with fellow American McCartney Kessler to win the title. This victory marked Gauff’s 10th doubles title and Kessler’s first on the WTA tour. The pair won five matches, including a tightly contested final against the third seeds Taylor Townsend and Zhang Shuai, which ended 6-4, 1-6, 13-11.
“In Montreal, I didn’t do well in singles, so I don’t feel so tired. I am curious to see how those players who have reached far in Montreal do here because the tournaments overlap. Having both tournaments coincide is tough for all players, especially if you look at the doubles.”
—Coco Gauff, Professional Tennis Player
Gauff noted the difficulty of overlapping WTA 1000 tournaments like Montreal and Cincinnati and how it affects players‘ energy levels, especially those competing in both singles and doubles. This doubles title added to her achievements this season, which include partnerships with Robin Montgomery at the Madrid Open and Alexandra Eala at the Italian Open, with her most notable doubles success being last year’s Roland Garros championship alongside Katerina Siniakova.
The Emotional and Competitive Significance of Gauff’s Recovery
Coco Gauff’s approach to overcoming her Wimbledon exit by disengaging from digital distractions and immersing herself in nature highlights the psychological challenges faced by elite athletes. Her candid admission about the emotional turmoil and quick swing from triumph to disappointment underscores the volatile nature of professional tennis.
As Gauff continues her hopes to regain form during the North American hard court season, her doubles success offers a positive outlet amid her singles struggles. Fans and analysts will be watching closely to see if her mental reset translates into improved performances at Cincinnati and beyond, potentially shaping her trajectory for the rest of the season.