After being criticised and ridiculed on social media for going winless during last season’s WTA Finals, US Open champion Coco Gauff has attributed a change in her perspective and learning life lessons as keys aiding her progression over the past twelve months. Kicking off the elite eight event in Cancun with a straight-sets win over three-time Major finalist Ons Jabeur is a good way to start.
Gauff gets on the board in Cancun
- Gauff’s post-match interview show she’s relieved to start WTA Finals in better form than last season: “I’m really happy with how I played, last year obviously didn’t do well… only won one set and that was in doubles [with Jessica Pegula]. One win on the board, hopefully can keep going.”
- US Open champion won 81% of points behind her first serve, had a 16-5 advantage in total winners and 11 less unforced errors (24-13). Despite being hampered by two rain delays, their contest didn’t last an hour
- That result means Gauff now has 15 wins over top-10 opposition, having been 7-16 against them this time last year… the record now sits at 15-21
Gauff bt. Jabeur 6-0, 6-1
US Open titlist Coco Gauff prepared for tough group stage matches against four-time Major champion Iga Swiatek and Wimbledon winner Marketa Vondrousova with a straightforward 57-minute win over Ons Jabeur overnight.
Gauff, who lost in straight-sets (6-2, 6-3) against Swiatek during the Beijing semifinals earlier this month, spoke with enthusiasm for the future when assessing her impressive showing against world no. 7 Jabeur, who had won two of their last three previous meetings before this clash. This time was markedly different.
“I was just trying to be the aggressor, she plays great tennis and has variety with the drop shot.. so I was keeping the ball deep and allowing myself a chance to hit winners.
On identifying what the biggest difference for her this past year has been: “More belief. Having fun on court, being relaxed, the worst thing is you can lose, I’ve learned about perspective.”
Gauff won 8-of-11 net points and had a whopping 30-point differential in total won (58-28), on another evening where a one-sided scoreline was recorded after Aryna Sabalenka’s discontent at the playing conditions was a view shared by others.
Gauff’s top-10 wins this year
Jessica Pegula (Eastbourne)
Maria Sakkari (Washington, China)
Vondrousova (Toronto)
Swiatek (Cincinnati)
Karolina Muchova, Aryna Sabalenka (US Open)
Jabeur (WTA Finals)
How do the groups look, and what’s next?
By virtue of a better win-loss record in games played, Gauff leads Chetumal Group – and Sabalenka in Bacalar – after one set of fixtures having recorded identical 6-0, 6-1 scorelines. Sabalenka and Swiatek are vying for the year-end world no. 1 spot.
Bacalar Group
Aryna Sabalenka bt. Maria Sakkari 6-0, 6-1
Jessica Pegula bt. Elena Rybakina 7-5, 6-2
1. Sabalenka (12-1, 92%)
2. Pegula (13-7, 65%)
3. Rybakina (7-13, 35%)
4. Sakkari (1-12, 8%)
Chetumal Group
Iga Swiatek bt. Marketa Vondrousova 7-6 (7-3), 6-0
Coco Gauff bt. Ons Jabeur 6-0, 6-1
1. Gauff (12-1, 92%)
2. Swiatek (13-6, 68%)
3. Vondrousova (6-13, 32%)
4. Jabeur (1-12, 8%)
Swiatek-Gauff and Vondrousova-Jabeur, both Major final rematches over the past 18 months, are scheduled for Wednesday in group play and just speak to the depth of competition this week. Whether the overall match quality improves, is uncertain.
Picture source: Getty Images
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