Coco Gauff
Getting over a devastating loss at a Grand Slam is never easy, but Coco Gauff has lifted the lid on how she managed to cope in the days after her Australian Open exit.
World No 3 Coco Gauff’s season-opening major campaign at Melbourne Park came to an end in the semi-final as she went down against eventual champion Aryna Sabalenka, who exacted revenge for her defeat to the American teenager in last year’s US Open final.
It was a tough loss for the reigning US Open champion as she had a chances in the match before Sabalenka pulled off a 7-6 (7-2), 6-4 victory.
Coco Gauff took some time off after the defeat, but how did she get over that heartbreaking result?
Well, her boyfriend – rumoured to be Jalen Sera – was on hand to help.
“I would say that the first night I was like still thinking about the things that went on in that match. You know, I felt like it was decided by a couple of points,” she recently told Sky Sports Tennis in an interview.
“And then after that, I flew home and then what did I do? Oh, I took off like four days; four-five days. My boyfriend came to town so I hung out with him.
“And then I was really happy to get back on the practice court. I felt good to just be at home. We’ve built a court in my house so practicing is always very easygoing than at tournaments. Yeah, I feel really refreshed.”
Coco Gauff returned to action at the Qatar Open this week, but her WTA 1000 tournament came to an abrupt end in the second round as she was stunned 6-2,6-4 by Katerina Siniakova on Tuesday.
Gauff, though, made the most of her time in the Middle East as she spent Valentine’s Day in the dunes with her mother Candi as she shared their “motorsport” experience on Instagram.
https://www.instagram.com/cocogauff/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=c33a3952-0194-4360-9181-77f36583ae71
Earlier in the week, the 19-year-old – who turns 20 on March 13 – opened up about the importance of enjoying things away from tennis.
“For me, being a tennis player, it’s second, third, fourth, fifth to who I am as a person,” she said. “I always try to keep, you know, God first, family and friends, tennis, and community – you know, friends, family, and community before tennis.
“So, yeah, I think it’s important that I continue to just speak up and be a voice for the voiceless.”
