It’s almost surprising to remember that Coco Gauff was only 19 when she clinched her first Grand Slam title at the US Open just two years ago.
Last night, though, at Arthur Ashe Stadium, with around 23,000 fans in attendance and many more watching at home, it was evident just how overwhelming the pressure can be for the young tennis sensation.
“There was more to this tournament than usual, but I was expecting that,” Gauff remarked.
“What you saw was pretty much it, and I managed to reset through it. It was a challenging moment for me on the court. Yeah, it’s definitely been a tough few weeks, but I’m really happy I made it through today.”
This win sets Gauff up to face Poland’s Magdalena Frech on Saturday, while also marking her advance to the third round for the fifth consecutive year.
You can tell how much this tournament means to Gauff; there are countless stories of her watching the Williams sisters and sharing those moments with her father.
This year feels distinctly different for her.
The recent attention drawn by her new coach, Gavin Macmillan, brought in just before the tournament to fix her serve, has only intensified the spotlight on her.
“I think it’s human,” she reflected on feeling vulnerable in front of such a big audience. “Everyone sees the athlete, but we have our human side too. You know, you’re ranked number three in the world, playing like this.”
“In those moments, it feels like the pressure gets to you, but I think that’s normal. Every professional athlete has felt that weight at some point.”
“I’m just trying to showcase that it’s okay to be human. There will be tough days, but what matters is how you bounce back from them.”
After battling through a tough first-round match against Ajla Tomljanovic, Gauff found herself stiff in the opening set on Thursday.
She fell behind quickly but managed to regain her footing, winning the next four games.
However, Vekic’s easy seventh game presented a moment of challenge for Gauff.
Gauff, who double-faulted at a crucial point, battled her emotions as tears filled her eyes, burying her head in her towel.
She continued to dab at her eyes, trying to pull herself together.
The medical timeout for Vekic gave Gauff a moment to collect herself, and she concentrated on improving her serve.
Eventually, she overcame a double fault that opened a tiebreaker, securing the first set.
In the second set, Gauff displayed more precise tennis, only double-faulting twice and reducing her unforced errors to five, finishing the match with a total of 18 compared to Vekic’s 36.
During the post-match interview on the court, Gauff’s emotions were palpable as she spoke to the audience.
Tears continued to stream down her face, prompting her to turn away from the microphone briefly to gather herself.
The crowd showed their support, wiping away tears as well.
“You guys really help me a lot,” Gauff told them. “I’m doing this for myself, but I’m also doing it for you.”
