Coco Gauff Reveals Why She Never Underestimates Young Rivals: “People Took Me for Granted Because of My Age”

Coco Gauff ended qualifier Alina Korneeva‘s run in the fourth round of the Canadian Open. The 19-year-old Korneeva, who ended Emma Navarro and Iva Jovic‘s runs, couldn’t repeat the same result against the two-time Grand Slam singles champion.

Gauff, 22, admitted at the press conference after the win that she never took rivals younger than her for granted. She believes that when she was a newcomer, her opponents used to underestimate her, which sometimes used to help her win matches.

I mean, it’s something I think about sometimes. I don’t know. I think because people made my age such a thing when I was younger, I feel like, if anything, I don’t take their age for granted. Sometimes I felt people on tour, when I was younger, took me for granted because of my age, and that’s how I was able to sneak a lot of wins sometimes.

Gauff was 14 when she turned pro back in 2018. She came into the spotlight for the first time when she stunned the legendary Venus Williams in the first round of the 2019 Wimbledon.

So, because I had that experience, I know not to take their age for granted. And just because they’re young, knowing that they’re not going to shy away from the spotlight or be nervous or anything like that. So I feel like, if anything, it makes me just stay on my toes even more.

Coco Gauff added

With this win, the fourth seed will be playing the quarterfinals of the Canadian Open for the fourth time in her career. Before this year, she made the last eight in 2021, 2022, and 2023, while last year, her run ended in the fourth round.

Coco Gauff will face Belinda Bencic in the quarterfinals of the Canadian Open

To reach her first semifinal at the Canadian Open, Coco Gauff has to beat Belinda Bencic, who ended Alexandra Eala‘s seven-match winning streak with a straight-set win in the fourth round. The Swiss ace has met Gauff eight times, winning only a couple of matches. The upcoming match will be their third clash this year, following the quarterfinals of the Miami Open and the fourth round of Wimbledon.

Obviously she’s someone that always puts herself in the position to win the quarterfinals and later on in the tournament, so obviously she’s a great champion, and she’s very tricky to play against. I feel like I came close so many times but always kind of lost in the third set, but it’s really challenging to play against her, so I’m excited to try again and try maybe a little bit different or just challenge her again.

Belinda Bencic said at the press conference

Bencic is a former champion in the tournament. Back in 2015, she beat Simona Halep to win her career’s first of the two WTA 1000 titles she has lifted so far.

Bencic hasn’t yet won a title this season, last winning at the 2025 Pan Pacific Open. Gauff, too, has not yet lifted a title this year. She played the finals of the Miami Open and the Italian Open, losing them to Aryna Sabalenka and Elina Svitolina, respectively. Gauff last clinched a title at the 2025 Wuhan Open.

After Toronto, the three-time WTA 1000 singles champion will be aiming to win her second title at the Cincinnati Open. It was in this tournament back in 2023 that Gauff won her career’s first WTA 1000 title by defeating Karolina Muchova. Before arriving in Toronto, Gauff competed at Wimbledon, where she reached the semifinals for the first time but lost to eventual runner-up Muchova.

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