By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Monday July 8, 2024
Those who watched Coco Gauff struggle to find any semblance of her peak tennis against Emma Navarro on Centre Court on Sunday know that the 20-year-old was off her game. Stressed in the moment, Gauff uncharacteristically pleaded with her coaching box, looking for solutions to Navarro’s bulletproof game.
She didn’t find them and ended up losing, 6-4, 6-3.
“I think I went away from the things that I like to do,” Gauff later said. “I think I had the ability to raise my level when players play well, and I feel like I didn’t do that today.
“I definitely would say that I have to learn from today because it’s not going to be the first or last time that a player plays a great match against me, and I have to figure out when those moments happen how to raise my level.”
The American says she doesn’t normally like to rely on her coaches during matches but added that Sunday’s contest was different. She was out of ideas and hoped that they could help her try to reset her game.
“I think we had a game plan going in,” Gauff told reporters. “I felt that it wasn’t working. I don’t always ask for advice on the box. Today was one of those rare moments where I felt I didn’t have solutions. I don’t want to say I didn’t have any because I think I’m a capable player of coming up with some. I think today mentally there was a lot going on. I felt like I wanted more direction from the box.”
No matter, Gauff says there can be no excuses. She’s the one on the court, and she has to find solutions.
“I felt today I don’t think we were all in sync,” she added. “It’s no one’s blame except myself. I mean, I’m the player out there. I have to make decisions for myself on the court.”
There’s no easy draw
After Aryna Sabalenka’s withdrawal due to a shoulder injury, Gauff was looked at as the heavy favorite to come through in the lower half of the draw. As of Sunday’s match with Navarro, she was the only Top-5 player remaining. Gauff, who has still not reached beyond the round of 16 at Wimbledon in five career appearances (career record 11-5), says she didn’t feel any additional pressure because of it.
“It means nothing,” she said. “Especially on my side of the draw, even though the players may not be as known, but they’re so talented.
“I think that’s something that people, fans of the game, are a little bit disrespectful when it comes to other players on tour. Maybe their ranking isn’t there, but the level is there. They’re here for a reason. They deserve their spot. There’s no easy draw. There’s no cakewalk or anything. This is a competitive sport and we all want to win.”
My Mind Is On The Olympics
Still alive in the doubles draw with Jessica Pegula (facing Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini in the round of 16 on Day 8), Gauff says that her focus is not firmly on the 2024 Olympic Games.
“I mean, honestly, my mind is on the Olympics,” she said. “I’m looking at us as a team how can we improve to be a good contender for a medal in the Olympics because we haven’t played that much this year. I’m still going to look at this match. I have to look at it if I want to improve not only for the Olympics but also for the rest of the season and seasons beyond.”
