Coco Gauff Keeps Canadian Open Dreams Alive Amid Mounting Pressure Before US Open

After Coco Gauff crashed out of the Canadian Open’s singles event thanks to a massive upset by local phenom Victoria Mboko, Lindsay Davenport had no doubts as to what the World No. 2 would be doing to get her form back. “No question she [Gauff] is like ‘Okay, I got to get better for the U.S. Open. It’s got to start now. I’d imagine she’s back on the practice court today or tomorrow working on things to try and gain some momentum in Cincy,” the former World No. 1 speculated on the Tennis Live podcast.

Following the historic victory in Paris, the American has been going through a rough patch. She was ousted in Berlin in the first round. Later, at the All England Club, her fate remained unchanged as Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska edged her out in the opening encounter itself. The alarm bells are ringing pretty loud. And while it’s unclear whether she has been hitting the practice court to improve her singles game already, she has certainly been hitting it big in doubles.

The American WTA star has now made it to the ultimate stage of the 1000-level event. Gauff and compatriot McCartney Kessler defeated Olga Danilovic and Hsieh Su-wei on Monday night in the Canadian Open doubles semifinal. After Danilovic-Hsieh snatched the first set, Gauff and Kessler made a phenomenal comeback in the second set before confirming their final appearance with a score line of 5-7, 6-4, 10-6. The WTA’s Instagram update, which featured a picture of the American duo, even made it to Gauff’s stories.

Gauff’s last doubles appearance came in May at the Italian Open quarter-final, where the local duo of Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini beat her and Alexandra Eala (a rather unexpected collaboration) 7-5, 3-6, 10-7. The latest win will definitely provide a much-needed confidence boost to Gauff, especially before kicking off her next hard-court campaign in Cincinnati and the eventual challenge at the US Open.

Coco Gauff will look to replicate 2023

Two years ago, she beat Karolina Muchova in the final to lift the trophy. Aged 19, Gauff became the first teen champion in Cincinnati since 17-year-old Linda Tuero won the 1968 edition. “This is unbelievable,” said the American. “Especially after everything I went through earlier this summer in Europe. There’s been a lot of ups and downs the last couple of weeks.” Interestingly, much like the ongoing season, the ‘downs’ at the time included a first-round Wimbledon exit after a 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 loss to compatriot Sofia Kenin.

And then, just weeks after her triumph at Cincinnati, she created history at Flushing Meadows as she beat Aryna Sabalenka in the summit clash to become the first American teenager to win the US Open since Serena Williams in 1999. Last year, however, Emma Navarro beat her in the fourth round. Following the exit, Gauff revealed that “there were things execution-wise, obviously I wish I could serve better. I think if I would have did that, it would have been a different story for me. But Emma played really well. She did everything well, I thought.”

Her serves continue to plague her. In the National Bank Open itself, she recorded 43 double faults across her three singles matches. Needless to say, that is one of the things she’ll need to figure out sooner than later for a chance to sing Jay-Z and Alicia Keys’ Empire State Of Mind at the US Open once again.

Top Comment by Judy

Yes she is’ without her playing it’s not fun to watch’:she brings the energy ‘ the cards are stacked against...more

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