Coco Gauff has Mike Tyson’s help in the face-off with Emma Raducanu in the second round of the Australian Open 2023
Coco Gauff will play against Emma Raducanu for the first time in the second round of Australian Open
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Prior to her second-round match, tennis professional Coco Gauff opened up about a different training regime, which involved boxing. The American prodigy is set to compete against British tennis star Emma Raducanu for a spot in the third round of the Grand Slam tournament. The pair, who are allegedly part of the ‘next generation’ are going to face each other for the first time in the Australian Open 2023.
Raducanu, the British Grand Slam winner, easily defeated Tamara Korpatsch in straight sets, while Gauff gained a lopsided victory over Katerina Siniakova. The 18-year-old seventh seed is yet to win a Slam and thus, wants to follow in the Brit’s footsteps. To prepare herself for the much-anticipated match, Gauff took the help of boxing legend, Mike Tyson.
“To help me follow in Emma’s footsteps and win a Slam, I added a new activity into my pre-season training – boxing,” Gauff wrote for BBC Sport. Gauff also explained her training at the gym for the Australian Open as per the advice of her fitness trainer. She further explained that she wasn’t a ‘fighter’ and made sure that everyone knew of the fact.
According to what Gauff wrote, she significantly improved in her three weeks of boxing training. Her previous experience with Mike Tyson also assisted her in this unusual sort of training. The star will be battling the US Open champion on Wednesday at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne.
Emma Raducanu and Coco Gauff shower praise on each other
Emma Raducanu‘s triumph at the 2021 US Open was definitely a surprise to many, as the record-breaking woman had only played a few WTA matches beforehand. Raducanu becomes the first British woman to win the US Open since 1977. Coco Gauff rightfully showered praise on the player, remarking that her Slam win was “inspiring” in her recent BBC column.
The youngster is yet to set hands on a Grand Slam trophy herself, despite coming close to winning the French Open title last year. Coco Gauff further remarked on how much pressure Raducanu has had to handle compared to herself, as well as how often they talk to each other. Raducanu also hailed Gauff as a “role model” in terms of the sport and her personality.
The friendly duo will undoubtedly play an exciting match for the fans on Wednesday, showcasing who will come out on top and advance to the third round of the Australian Open 2023.
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Tanisha Mohanty
(172 Articles Published)