“Watching Serena and watching Sharapova lose…,” Coco Gauff turns to her childhood idols Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova to motivate herself through a heartbreaking loss

Coco Gauff recalled how, Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova, also used to lose matches, never letting one defeat decide everything.

“Watching Serena and watching Sharapova lose…,” Coco Gauff turns to her childhood idols Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova to motivate herself through a heartbreaking loss

Maria Sharapova, Coco Gauff, Serena Williams (Images via X)

The semifinal of the Australian Open between Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka did not go in the former’s favor as she faced a heartbreaking exit from the tournament on Thursday (January 25) at the Rod Laver Arena.

Sabalenka took her revenge for the US Open final defeat from Gauff to secure herself a third Grand Slam singles final berth. Now the Belarusian will be squaring off against China’s Qinwen Zheng on Saturday (January 27).

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Following the loss, a disappointed Gauff appeared for the traditional press conference. Though she was overwhelmed after the disheartening defeat, a sense of calmness still pervaded her mind as she pointed out the history. She recalled how her childhood idols, Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova, also used to lose matches, never letting one defeat decide everything.

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You know, I watched these matches growing up and, like, watching Serena and watching Sharapova lose, like, these matches. It seems like when you're in it, it feels like the end of the world. But then, when you look at history, they didn't let one match define their career.
Coco Gauff said at the press conference

The 19-year-old revealed the soothing words her coach Brad Gilbert said to her following the defeat.

I'm not going to let this match -- I'm going to dwell on it tonight, but as Brad told me as soon as the match was over, the sun is going to rise tomorrow, and you have a new chance to live a good day. Tomorrow, I don't know, I'm going to try to go to the movies or something, be proud of myself.
She added

Coco Gauff equaled Serena Williams en route to the semifinals

As Coco Gauff registered a hard-fought victory over Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk with a score of 7-6(8-6), 6-7(3-7), and 6-2, she equaled her childhood idol Serena Williams’ record of most Grand Slam singles match victories as a teenager. Her win over the Ukranian was her 49th Grand Slam singles win.

Coco Gauff
Coco Gauff, Serena Williams (Images via NBC Sports, NPR)

Only former tennis player Jennifer Capriati has won more Grand Slam singles as a teenager than Williams and Gauff. The 19-year-old had the chance to surpass Williams as well as Capriati if she secured a win in the semifinal and the final.

Gauff now won’t be able to go past Williams because she will turn 20 in March this year. The next Grand Slam event, which is Roland Garros, is scheduled to start in late May this year.

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