Latest news with #Gauff
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
‘She is a fighter': Coco Gauff's former coach says she knew she would be a star -- even at 7
'She is a fighter': Coco Gauff's former coach says she knew she would be a star -- even at 7 A young tennis phenom with ties to metro Atlanta is basking in the glow of her big win at the French Open. Cori Coco Gauff was born in Del Ray, Florida, but grew up in metro Atlanta. One of her first tennis coaches told Channel 2's Kary Greer that she knew the 7-year-old at the time was destined for greatness. Advertisement 'I wrote it down in my HEDZ. I looked in the mirror. Even after that first set, I thought, I will be a French Open champion. I can do this. Just the feeling. You have to psych yourself out,' Gauff said. Gauff appeared on Good Morning America on Monday after her first French Open win, her second grand slam title in her career since winning the U.S. Open in 2023. TRENDING STORIES: 'One thing I know about Coco is that she is a fighter. She was a fighter when she was seven. You know, when we would be out there on the court, it didn't matter what the drill was, she was going to do the drill to the best of her ability,' Gauff's former coach, Jewel Peterson, told Greer. Advertisement Peterson coached the tennis phenom when she was just 7 years old. She even remembers picking her up from elementary school. 'I've just been so excited to see how she just keeps getting better and better each year, handling the pressure, handling the big stage, handling playing in France and all around the world, and you know, it is just so exciting to be able to see her make those kinds of adjustments,' Peterson said. Up next for the 21-year-old Coco: the U.S. Open 'I'm excited about the U.S. Open. Obviously, she knows how to play and how to win there. And every time she's there, the crowd is on her side, and she plays her best tennis. And it's hardcore. I mean, come on. So, I know that she's gonna do well there. I know Savalinka is probably ready for vengeance, but Coco will be ready for her,' Peterson said.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Coco Gauff graciously dismissed Aryna Sabalenka's French Open insult
Coco Gauff won her first career French Open title Saturday because she outplayed the world No. 1-ranked Aryna Sabalenka. However, instead of conceding she was outplayed, Sabalenka said after the loss Gauff won "not because she played incredible, just because I made all those mistakes." She also said the windy conditions played a factor (as if Gauff didn't have to play in the same conditions) and Gauff would have lost to Iga Swiatek (who didn't even make the final). Advertisement Simply put, Sabalenka was a sore loser, though she did at least attempt to atone for it on her Instagram story the following day, saying "Coco stepped up and played with poise and purpose. She earned that title. Respect." But Gauff didn't seem to take it too hard. During an appearance Monday on CBS Mornings, the 21-year-old dismissed Sabalenka's post-match comments as being high on emotions: "I'm giving her the benefit of the doubt." "I was a little bit surprised, but at the end of the day it was tough conditions and a tough match," Gauff said. "And for me, I know when I step on the court -- I'm from Florida. I've played in the wind a lot -- and I know when I play on a windy day, you're not going to win by hitting winners. You're not going to win by playing pretty tennis... And also when you're playing Aryna, she's such a tough hitter, so you know she's going to hit winners, so you kind of have to make her make those mistakes. So, I think everything that I did was for a reason and for a purpose. That's how I needed to play today. I knew that mentally going on to the court that's what I needed to do. And if it went her way, I would've credited her as well." Gauff showed real maturity there. Seems like other players should take notes. This article originally appeared on For The Win: Coco Gauff graciously dismissed Aryna Sabalenka's French Open insult
USA Today
5 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Coco Gauff graciously dismissed Aryna Sabalenka's French Open insult
Coco Gauff graciously dismissed Aryna Sabalenka's French Open insult Coco Gauff won her first career French Open title Saturday because she outplayed the world No. 1-ranked Aryna Sabalenka. However, instead of conceding she was outplayed, Sabalenka said after the loss Gauff won "not because she played incredible, just because I made all those mistakes." She also said the windy conditions played a factor (as if Gauff didn't have to play in the same conditions) and Gauff would have lost to Iga Swiatek (who didn't even make the final). Simply put, Sabalenka was a sore loser, though she did at least attempt to atone for it on her Instagram story the following day, saying "Coco stepped up and played with poise and purpose. She earned that title. Respect." But Gauff didn't seem to take it too hard. During an appearance Monday on CBS Mornings, the 21-year-old dismissed Sabalenka's post-match comments as being high on emotions: "I'm giving her the benefit of the doubt." "I was a little bit surprised, but at the end of the day it was tough conditions and a tough match," Gauff said. "And for me, I know when I step on the court -- I'm from Florida. I've played in the wind a lot -- and I know when I play on a windy day, you're not going to win by hitting winners. You're not going to win by playing pretty tennis... And also when you're playing Aryna, she's such a tough hitter, so you know she's going to hit winners, so you kind of have to make her make those mistakes. So, I think everything that I did was for a reason and for a purpose. That's how I needed to play today. I knew that mentally going on to the court that's what I needed to do. And if it went her way, I would've credited her as well." Gauff showed real maturity there. Seems like other players should take notes.
USA Today
6 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Coco Gauff ‘surprised' by Aryna Sabalenka's comments after French Open win
Coco Gauff 'surprised' by Aryna Sabalenka's comments after French Open win Show Caption Hide Caption Jessica Pagula on accomplished Coco Gauff, Emma Navarro, Madison Keys Tennis player Jessica Pegula discusses how amazing it is to have other amazing American women in tennis dominating the sport. Sports Seriously American tennis star Coco Gauff, 21, is fresh off her first French Open win, defeating world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the finals on Saturday, June 7. Gauff's victory marked the first time in a decade that an American had won the French Open. However, Gauff's moment of celebration was short-lived after Sabalenka made some shocking comments to the media following her loss. "I think she won the match not because she played incredible," said Sabalenka. "Just because I made all of those mistakes, if you look from the outside, from kind of easy balls." Although Sabalenka later retracted some of her comments, praising Gauff for how she "played with poise and purpose." The original comments had already been aired out, and Gauff was certainly taken aback by her statements. Tennis News: Coco Gauff's French Open title came with a trophy she wasn't expecting Coco Gauff 'surprised' by Sabalenka comments In response to Sabalenka's comments, Gauff told "Good Morning America" on Monday, "I was a little bit surprised about the comments and everything but I'm gonna give her the benefit of the doubt. I'm sure it was an emotional day, emotional match." Gauff continued, "I know she was probably a bit emotional after that match and it was a tough loss." Gauff went on to call Sabalenka a "fighter" and "a tough opponent," noting that the windy conditions during the finals were very tough on both of them. That is something that Sabalenka noted as well, citing that Gauff "handled the conditions much better." Have Gauff and Sabalenka played before? Heading into the French Open finals, Gauff and Sabalenka had a career match record of 5-5 against one another. Gauff has now pulled ahead at 6-5. Gauff is 2-1 against Sabalenka at Grand Slam finals. French Open final highlights: Coco Gauff wins title in thrilling battle over Aryna Sabalenka
Miami Herald
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Wild card Lois Boisson, Coco Gauff move on in French Open
French wild-card entry Lois Boisson advanced to the semifinals of the French Open with a 7-6 (6), 6-3 win over sixth-seeded Mirra Andreeva on Wednesday in Paris. Boisson, 22, fed off the support of the crowd and dispatched the 18-year-old Russian to become the first French semifinalist at her home Grand Slam event since Marion Bartoli in 2011. She also became the first woman to reach the semifinals at her debut Grand Slam tournament since Jennifer Capriati at the 1990 French Open. 'It's incredible. Thank you for supporting me like this. I have no words,' Boisson said as she addressed the home crowd after the match. 'I ran a bit too much because I was so tense early on, but I fought hard in that first set, which was so intense. At the start of the second, I felt a little empty, but I hung in there and finished the job.' Boisson didn't play in Paris last summer because of a torn left ACL. Now, she is one win away from playing in the French Open final. 'It's incredible, no matter what, given what happened last year and all the difficult moments I went through,' Boisson said. Boisson, who is No. 361 in the WTA rankings, will face a tall task in the semifinals against second-seeded Coco Gauff. The latter overcame sluggish play and rallied to a 6-7 (6), 6-4, 6-1 victory over fellow American Madison Keys. Although Gauff has yet to face Boisson in her career, she said she's ready to overcome her opponent's home advantage on the clay courts of Roland Garros. That same crowd frustrated Andreeva on Wednesday. 'I have played Jasmine (Paolini) in Rome,' Gauff said. 'I've played Jasmine and Sara (Errani) in Rome. I've played Caroline (Garcia) and Kristina (Mladenovic) here. So I have some experience playing against a crowd that maybe is not rooting for you. It's something I'm looking forward to if it were to happen. 'I think there are two ways I have (coped with) it in the past. Either, A, just pretend they're cheering for you, and B, just using it and not letting that get to you. I have been in crowds where they are 99 percent for me, so I don't have an issue with it. I hope everyone will be respectful and things. If not, it's cool. 'I think it makes sports exciting, and I can't get irritated at the fact that someone is rooting for their hometown hero, because I would do the same.' On Wednesday, Boisson overcame 3-1 and 5-3 deficits to upend Andreeva in the first set. The former then rebounded from an early 3-0 deficit in the second to win the match in two hours, eight minutes. As for the 21-year-old Gauff, she overcame 10 double faults and won eight of the match's final nine games to win her match in two hours, 11 minutes. Neither Gauff nor Keys played a clean match. Keys, the reigning Australian Open champion, hit 25 winners compared to 60 unforced errors. Gauff had 15 and 41, respectively. 'I have a lot more work left to do, but I'm going to savor this one today,' said Gauff, who reached the French Open semifinal for the second straight year and the third time overall. Keys saw her 11-match Grand Slam winning streak come to a halt. 'With her ability to cover the court,' Keys, 30, said, 'you're going to have to win the point multiple times before it's actually over.' Field Level Media 2025 - All Rights Reserved
