Coco Gauff has taken a brand new method to defending her second Grand Slam title.
This is the American’s technique for the French Open, the key clay courtroom match that begins Sunday and which he gained a yr in the past. Do not consider it as defending one thing.
“I do know that ‘shield’ means nothing in some methods,” Gauff mentioned. “I do not actually take into consideration protection anymore.”
Gauff’s first protection of her Grand Slam title on the US Open two years in the past ended within the fourth spherical with 19 double faults.
“On the U.S. Open, I believed, ‘I’ve to defend, I’ve to defend.’ What do you name it whenever you play in a match that you simply did not win?” Gauff mentioned just lately in Rome. “That is why I now say that is simply one other match: ‘I gained final yr, I’ll win it once more this yr.’ You possibly can’t defend it yearly. I am not Rafa.”
Gauff gained her first Roland Garros title a yr in the past by defeating top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka within the ultimate. Like final yr, Gauff completed runner-up on the clay-court Italian Open, a prelude to Roland Garros.
“There are a number of positives to take from this match and so much to be taught from,” Gauff mentioned after shedding to Elina Svitolina within the ultimate in Rome. “This week I went by means of all of the ups and downs of the match. … I have been down, I have been within the lead, I’ve misplaced the lead. I’ve reached the ultimate, I’ve misplaced match factors. I believe I’ve gone by means of each state of affairs that may put together me for Roland Garros.”
“Hopefully we are able to actually be taught from every state of affairs and do higher.”
“I believe that is actually progress,” Gauff mentioned after hitting 78 p.c of her first serves within the semifinal in opposition to Solana Cirstea. “It is the primary time in my profession that I felt like that shot was actually constant.
“It has been a means of ups and downs. Clearly, I do not need to jinx something, however I believe we have discovered a recipe to make it extra constant. Now we’re centered on find out how to weaponize it extra, find out how to serve it smarter.”
Gauff additionally talked about what she is bettering technically along with her serve.
“My toss is a bit more constant, my weight is a bit of higher, and my confidence and confidence are so much higher,” she mentioned. “Now that I am extra assured, I can truly constantly throw the ball in the best place and use the identical approach on every serve regardless of the place the goal is. That is the largest distinction.”
Whereas Sabalenka is usually unbeatable on arduous courts — see her “Sunshine Double” this yr with titles at Indian Wells, California and Miami — she nonetheless perfects her sport on clay.
The primary participant was upset by American Hayley Baptiste within the quarterfinals of the Madrid Open and misplaced to Cirstea within the third spherical on the Italian Open. Sabalenka additionally seemed to be affected by again ache in Rome.
Elena Rybakina, No. 2 within the rankings and this yr’s Australian Open champion, is one other participant who excels on arduous courts however has combined outcomes on clay.
4-time French Open champion Iga Swiatek misplaced to Svitolina within the semi-finals in Rome however continues to be rebuilding her sport beneath new coach Francisco Roig, who has additionally labored with Rafael Nadal.
Swiatek’s 26-game successful streak at Roland Garros got here to an finish final yr when she misplaced to Sabalenka within the semifinals.
Marta Kostyuk gained the Madrid Open however withdrew from the Italian Open as a result of hip and ankle issues.
Svitolina, who’s from the identical Ukraine as Kostyuk, gained her first WTA 1000 trophy in eight years in Rome, returning to the highest 10 after maternity depart. Nevertheless, she has by no means made it previous the semifinals at a Grand Slam, and has by no means made it previous the quarterfinals at Roland Garros.
Mila Andreeva (19 years previous) is already exhibiting her efficiency on all surfaces. The Russian gained the title on clay in Linz, Austria, and reached the Madrid ultimate, however misplaced within the Rome quarterfinals to Gauff in three units.
On the different finish of the age spectrum, Cirstea is having a breakthrough season, reaching the Rome semi-finals on the age of 36. She plans to retire on the finish of this yr.
No. 5 Jessica Pegula instructed there was a protracted checklist of contenders for the title.
“That is at all times the case, particularly on clay courts,” Pegula mentioned. “There are a number of alternatives for individuals.”
