Coco Gauff hailed Roger Federer for his words of wisdom as the 15-year-old prodigy became the youngest champion on the WTA Tour since 2004.
Gauff of the US on Sunday defeated 2017 Roland Garros winner Jelena Ostapenko 6-3, 1-6, 6-2 in Linz, Austria, for her maiden title.
The teenager is managed by Federer’s Team8 and even shares an Italian pasta sponsor with the 20-time major winner.
Photo: AFP
She revealed that a pep-talk by the Swiss superstar, after she suffered a heartbreaking defeat in the first round of last year’s Australian Open junior event, helped her on a path which this year saw her reach the round-of-16 at Wimbledon and US Open third round.
“He did give me some advice at the Australian Open in 2018 when I lost in the first round [after being among the favorites],” Gauff said. “He told me not to focus too much on the pressure or the outside drama. He gave me some perspective. Now, I try to enjoy the tennis and I barely think of that first-round loss two years later.”
Gauff confirmed that she is “100 percent” ready to play at this week’s Luxembourg WTA event, where she enjoys a career-high ranking of No. 71.
She started the week in Linz at No. 110 and was originally set for an early departure after losing in the qualifying rounds, before grabbing a lifeline as a lucky loser.
“For sure, I’m 100 percent playing in Luxembourg,” said Gauff, whose rise has been meteoric — at the end of last year she was No. 686. “I’m excited, it will be my last event for the year. I’m playing doubles there also [with Caty McNally]. This is the opportunity to see how I perform at back-to-back tournaments.”
Gauff’s career timetable has suddenly shifted into overdrive, with her breakthrough WTA trophy coming much more quickly than might have been expected.
“My goal was the top 100 and to get into the main draw of at least one Grand Slam,” said Gauff, who has earned a main-draw spot for January’s Australian Open. “I’ve accomplished all of those goals this year, now I need to work on improving my game.”
“I’ve gone through what was supposed to be my time line for the next two years. It’s been crazy,” she said.
Gauff, coached by her father, said she expects to start gaining confidence as she gets more accustomed to the WTA Tour.
“I’m new to the Tour and I’ve not faced a lot of the players. I’m sure the more matches I play the more confident I’ll get, along with the more experience I’ll have,” she said.
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