New York, Aug 29 (AP) In an arena where expectations run high, Coco Gauff faced her own daunting challenges. Knowing what others expected of her and holding herself to those same, if not higher, standards, Gauff was determined not to falter early in the U.S. Open. The idea of bowing out in the second round, especially by her own hand through double faults, was almost too much to bear. When she double-faulted twice in a row, fell behind in the first set against Donna Vekic at Arthur Ashe Stadium, emotions took hold and tears flowed openly.
Despite the emotional intensity, Gauff managed to regroup. She took control of her serving in the second set, ultimately defeating Vekic with scores of 7-6 (5), 6-2. Overwhelmed with emotion, Gauff found herself crying again at the end. Reflecting on her performance, she shared, “I just show people what it's like to be a human. I have bad days, but it’s about how you get up after them. Today I showed that I could rise after feeling the worst on court.” Seeded No. 3 at Flushing Meadows, Gauff aimed to overcome her persistent serving troubles, issues that contributed to her conspicuously early exit from the previous year's tournament. Acknowledging her struggle with double faults—totaling over 300 this season—Gauff enlisted the expertise of biomechanics specialist Gavin MacMillan before the U.S. Open, an advisor acclaimed for reconstructing Aryna Sabalenka's serve.
MacMillan helped Gauff to refine her serving technique. Pushing herself hard during practice, her shoulder bore the brunt of this intense preparation. “The biggest challenge is modifying my serve amidst such a significant tournament. It’s stressful,” Gauff admitted. Though victorious in her initial match against Ajla Tomljanovic, the battle extended to three sets partly due to her double faults. Nevertheless, her resilience in defense and baseline dominance enabled Gauff to conquer Vekic.
What induced such an emotional outburst? “Nerves and pressure, honestly,” Gauff revealed. “Usually, I thrive on it, but this tournament felt different, more intense.” Gauff fought through difficult weeks on and off the court, gratitude tinging her voice as she remarked on her hard-fought triumph that day. Her opponent, Vekic—a formidable contender who secured the silver medal at the Paris Olympics—struggled similarly with her serve, accumulating 10 double faults and requiring medical attention for her shoulder late in the opening set.
In the initial set, the 21-year-old from Florida lamented seven double faults and losing four of six service games, breaking down as she trailed 5-4 and then 6-5. Yet Gauff recaptured her composure, breaking back each time and dominating the tiebreaker. When Vekic sent a forehand long to conclude the set, enthusiasm spilled from the stands as Gauff’s mother cheered exuberantly. Gauff retreated to the locker room to regain her focus, the brief respite proving beneficial.
Her second set performance was markedly improved. Gauff limited herself to a single double fault and maintained solid serve, rallied by Simone Biles’ presence in the audience. Her mood uplifted, she exulted with a fist pump after sealing the match. Noticing Biles gave her a surprising boost. “If she can perform on a 6-inch beam with the world's pressure, I can hit a ball,” Gauff reflected, drawing calm and inspiration from Biles’ story and mental fortitude. “She’s truly an inspiration.” (AP) AM AM AM
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