With the added pressure of arriving as the defending champion, Coco Gauff faces this US Open 2024 with a somewhat different touch. 

The preparation on the surface has not been the best, as the American landed in New York with a record of one win and two losses on this American tour. 

Will she be able to break that negative dynamic and take a step forward at Flushing Meadows? 

The world number three talks about her feelings and expectations for the last Grand Slam of the season.

Her preparation for the US Open

“Obviously, I wanted to go to Cincinnati and win, but I had more realistic things in mind, since I was coming from the Olympics and had to change surfaces very quickly.

Actually, the main goal was to try to be as well prepared as possible for this tournament, and I think it was a blessing to lose so early, because I could actually train, something I hadn’t been able to do. I get my best results when I come out of a training block. I was able to train for a good week and a half, and of course, I still have a couple more days to do it,” Coco said on Media Day.

“The last two practices have gone very well. Before, for example, in Cincinnati, I wasn’t having great practices, in Toronto, I wasn’t having great practices. Here I am practicing very well, which doesn’t mean I will go into the match and play very well, but it gives you more confidence when you are practicing very well the week before a tournament.”

About video review

“We risk too much for that not to exist, especially when other sports have it, even if they don’t have the financial resources that tennis has. It should be in the Grand Slams and in the WTA 1000. I would like to see it at all levels, but I would definitely love to see it first at the highest levels. The worst is when they then apologize, and it’s like, thanks, but what is that going to do for me now? I think it will make everyone accountable, there will be much less frustration and outbursts among the players. I’m excited. I hope it continues to grow, not just in this tournament, but in all tournaments.”

Her mindset as the reigning champion

“A couple of days ago someone commented on my TikTok: ‘Why stress if you have won literally and figuratively?’ It’s actually a good perspective. No one can take that away from me, so why stress about something I already have. I just want to add that, whether it happens here in two weeks or next year here or in Australia or wherever, it doesn’t make sense for me to stress. I still use those who doubt me as motivation. I know people have said things about me on social media and will continue to do so for the rest of my life, but I know it’s just coming from one sense, from hate or jealousy, I don’t know.”

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Source: USA Today