Coco Gauff’s former coach has addressed her statement victory over Iga Swiatek at the WTA Finals.
The world No. 3 earned just her second-ever victory over the five-time Grand Slam champion in 13 meetings, winning their round-robin match 6-3 6-4.
It comes weeks after Gauff parted ways with former coach Brad Gilbert and hired a new mentor, Matt Daly.
Gauff’s US Open defeat was the camel that broke the straw’s back in her partnership with Gilbert. She hit 19 double faults during her fourth-round defeat and Gilbert was forced to sit through a damning analysis of his player’s serve during a TV appearance.
The pair announced their mutual decision to split shortly after the tournament ended. The double faults have remained a talking point with Gauff but there was something different during her victory over Swiatek on Tuesday – she didn’t let them take over and cost her the match.
The 20-year-old stormed through the opening set but ran into some trouble in the second, hitting nine double faults but surviving to come out on top. And Gauff’s ex-coach was impressed as she earned her second win over the Pole.
“Good effort from Coco today, taking out Iga Pop,” he wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter). “Will have a new year end number 1 Saby.”
By beating Swiatek, Gauff also ensured that Aryna Sabalenka would end the season as world No. 1 for the first time. After the match, the American explained that she managed to overcome her serving woes to stay in it – unlike some of her recent performances.
As well as her tough US Open loss, Gauff recently blew a huge lead over Aryna Sabalenka at the Wuhan Open when her serve disappeared. “I think I didn’t let the doubles get to me, even though it was there,” Gauff said of her serve.
“In Wuhan, I felt like I was just feeling bad and making myself feel worse, and I was trying not to allow myself to do that here.
“I’m in the process of changing things, so it’s up and down, and I feel like it’s in the right direction, like you said, the first set, no break point, which, yeah, I don’t even know if that’s ever happened against her particularly.
“So, yeah, I think it’s in the right direction. And I was still in the match, even if you know, I wasn’t serving well, which gives me confidence for the next one.”
Gauff has officially guaranteed herself a place in the semi-final. She will play her final round-robin match against Barbora Krejcikova on Thursday.
Content Source: www.express.co.uk