“She has 23 in singles and 14 in doubles, that’s why she’s the GOAT,” Coco Gauff cites Serena Williams’ example upon becoming World No. 1
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Serena Williams and Coco Gauff
World No. 1 in Doubles, Coco Gauff is at the top of the rankings for the first time in her career in any discipline since becoming Pro and the American is elated and happy with her milestone achievement. Gauff is now the second-youngest woman to achieve the top rank in doubles, with Justine Henin holding the record at the moment. Gauff achieved the feat by winning the 2022 Canadian Open partnering compatriot Jessica Pegula winning their second WTA-1000 title of the season.
Gauff is yet to break into the Top-10 rankings in the singles discipline but the American is making steady progress having knocked the door at the top rankings by reaching the World No. 11 spot. She has dropped a place and is currently ranked 12th but given the hardcourts season resuming once again, one can expect the 18-year old to enter the Top-10 for the first time while asserting her dominance in doubles as well.
“People overlook doubles,” Coco Gauff
Gauff has reached two Grand Slam finals in Doubles, the 2021 US Open and the 2022 French Open, ending on the losing side unfortunately both times. The teen has however achieved more success in doubles so far and that has helped her improve her singles game as well. As she becomes a force to be reckoned with and players continue to study her aggressive game, the American talked about the importance of doubles and how she is improving her personal game.
“It’s pretty cool to be No.1 in something. People overlook [doubles] sometimes, but people forget, Serena has 23 Slams in singles but she has 14 in doubles. That’s why she’s the greatest player, too, because she dominates both sides of the game. I think that’s what I need, more matches, because in a Grand Slam very few people can play great the whole match for two weeks. You always have one bad set or something. I think that having those matches under my belt helps,” said Gauff.
Talking about the hype when she came to the limelight and how things have changed for her since then, Gauff said, “That was so stupid for me to believe that because [Naomi Osaka] had two Grand Slams at that point, and I was 15 playing my first US Open. I believe that I can win the match, there’s nothing wrong with that. But I thought that I was supposed to do something — not believe that I could do it — I actually thought I was expected to do it. Now I’m just believing in it, more than expecting it, because you have to be realistic.
“And I think at that time nobody was really realistic. I feel like everybody knows I’m fast. I think sometimes I just go and just put the ball in the court because I know I can run it down. That was my old mentality. But now I think I’m trying to take my chances more and be more aggressive. Because playing [the old] way would definitely get me quarterfinals or fourth round in Slams. But to get to that final moment you need to take care of those details. I think I’m slowly taking care of those details,” said Gauff during the media day in Cincinnati.
Gauff, the 11th seed in singles in the 2022 Cincinnati Open, will take on Marie Bouzkova in the first round of the tournament as the American looks to make her best preparations ahead of the massive 2022 US Open where she will look for her maiden Grand Slam title once again having come very close in French Open this year before losing to World No. 1 Iga Swiatek in the finals.
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Sarthak Shitole
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