Coco Gauff had one clear piece of advice for Lois Boisson after beating the Frenchwoman in the Roland Garros semi-final. Boisson made her Grand Slam debut this fortnight as a wildcard ranked down at No. 361 in the world and stormed into the semi-final, beating two top-10 players on her way. The 22-year-old is now set to skyrocket almost 300 spots up the rankings, and everyone will be waiting to see what she does next.
And Gauff has had a similar experience at a Major, enjoying her breakthrough at Wimbledon six years ago when she was aged just 15. The American has been one of the most talked-about tennis players ever since, and she had a reminder for Boisson after ending her fairytale run.
Since she burst onto the scene in 2019, Gauff has gone on to become the world No. 2 and a Grand Slam champion, winning the US Open a couple of years ago.
Although she’s only 21 years old, the American has plenty of experience under her belt and was asked if she had any advice for Boisson after the world No. 361 put herself on the map. But Gauff thought Boisson could have it harder than she did.
“Yeah, I think her position is especially harder because I think in the French there’s not a lot of players that have made this result in the recent years. So I think the whole country is going to be looking at everything,” she explained.
“I guess my biggest advice is just to stay true to yourself and the things that people, you know, keep your people around you, what they expect from you, not what media expects from you or other outside analysts expect for you.”
The world No. 2 already believes Boisson will be able to deal with the increased hype and expectations, especially as she adjusts to playing top tournaments.
She added: “Yeah, I think that’s my only advice. I don’t know her too well, but you know, the fact that she’s had such a great run and even with all the media attention that happened so fast, obviously I think she has her head on her right shoulders.”
“So, yeah, it’s going to be probably a weird few months for her, but I think the more it happens, the more you get used to it.”
Gauff will be hoping to draw on her own experience when she faces world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in Saturday’s final. The American finished runner-up here in 2022, losing her first Slam final to Iga Swiatek.
She won the US Open the following summer, beating Sabalenka in the championship match, and feels better prepared for her second attempt at lifting the Roland Garros trophy.
“My first final here I was super nervous, and I kind of wrote myself off before the match even happened,” Gauff confessed.
“Obviously here I have a lot more confidence just from playing a Grand Slam final before and doing well in one. Yeah, I think going into Saturday I’ll just give it my best shot and try to be as calm and relaxed as possible.
“Yeah, whatever happens, happens, and knowing that I put the best effort forward.”
Content Source: www.express.co.uk