Yes, Coco Gauff is a Grand Slam champion. Yes, she's been ranked No. 1 in doubles and No. 2 in singles. Yes, she's already a big star who transcends her sport and was a flag bearer alongside LeBron James at the Paris Olympics... and has a signature shoe... and is featured on Wheaties boxes and... and... and... (More Tennis News)
And yet, back in New York for Monday's start of the U.S. Open, which she won a year ago for her first major trophy 바카라 the first American teen to do so since Serena Williams in 1999 바카라 Gauff still occasionally might sound like someone who deals with impostor syndrome.
Put simply: She does not quite understand what all the fuss is about.
바카라I just thought I was nobody,바카라 Gauff said. 바카라The whole flag bearer thing is still mind-blowing to me. Like, 'Why am I up there?"
As she wandered around the athlete's village, Gauff often was stopped by other Olympians hoping they could pose with her for a photo.
바카라I'm like, Can I get a selfie with you, too?' I just wasn't really expecting this,바카라 the Floridian said. 바카라Maybe I just don't get it.바카라
When she was asked less than a month ago for her thoughts on the U.S. Open and its importance to her still-nascent career, Gauff replied: 바카라It hasn't been on my mind.바카라
Gauff said she was instead focused on the 2024 Games and soaking up that experience fully.
바카라She's really embraced her star power, kind of,바카라 said Jessica Pegula, a top-10 singles player and Gauff's frequent doubles partner, 바카라but at the same time, she's like a kid.바카라
On-court vs. off-court for Gauff.
The off-court aspects of Gauff's Olympics debut were a huge success: meeting James; collecting pins; the college-style getting to know folks of various backgrounds; and chatting at breakfast with athletes such as 100-meter dash gold medalist Noah Lyles.
바카라He's probably the most confident (athlete) I ever met in my life,바카라 Gauff said, 바카라other than maybe Serena.바카라
The on-court results in France? Not as gratifying.
Gauff exited in the third round of singles after arguing with the chair umpire over a late call, then lost her second match in both women's doubles and mixed doubles.
바카라I'll try to take the positive out of it,바카라 Gauff said, 바카라and do better next time.바카라
Gauff is going through a slump as she goes back to the U.S. Open with her title defence 바카라 a term she says she doesn't love 바카라 about to begin, Gauff is going through a rough stretch of results.
She was eliminated in the fourth round at Wimbledon while visibly upset at her coach, Brad Gilbert. After the struggles at the Olympics, she moved to the hard courts to prepare for New York and that did not go well: Gauff lost her second match in Toronto and her first in Cincinnati. Her ranking slid from No. 2 to No. 3.
Hardly the ideal leadup she enjoyed in 2023 by winning 11 of 12 matches and titles at Washington and Cincinnati before arriving at the U.S. Open for her star-making turn.
바카라She's getting constant attention, all the time, and that's a lot to deal with,바카라 said Emma Navarro, who beat Gauff at Wimbledon and was her U.S. teammate at the Olympics. 바카라I have a lot of respect for her and how she handles that.바카라
It will be fascinating to see how Gauff does when the lights come on in Arthur Ashe Stadium. Her initial opponent is Varvara Gracheva, who lost in the first round the past two years in New York.
바카라You just don't know 바카라 you don't consciously know 바카라 the expectations that creep into your cells in your body,바카라 said Chris Evert, a six-time U.S. Open champion and now an ESPN analyst. 바카라Everybody, from Day 1, has thought about Coco: She's the next Serena Williams. She's going to be the next one that dominates.' That stays with you for a long time.바카라
There will be other storylines of interest, from top-ranked Jannik Sinner's recent doping case to defending champion Novak Djokovic's bid for a 25th Grand Slam title to Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka vying for a second major championship of 2024 to the U.S. men trying to end a 21-year Slam drought.
Gauff could face the most scrutiny of anyone.
바카라I have a lot more aspirations obviously than just winning one (major),바카라 she said. 바카라I think the start of one just gives you a taste and gives you the belief that you can do it again.바카라
