By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Friday January 12, 2024
It’s no secret that Coco Gauff has lots of self-belief. After media day on Friday on the Australian Open, it’s even much less of a secret.
Gauff, who gained her maiden main on the 2023 US Open, talked about quite a lot of topics, from her improved serve to her capability to place her crowning achievement previously. She additionally talked concerning the excessive expectations she has set for herself.
Requested what number of Grand Slam titles she thinks she will be able to win, Gauff stated she didn’t actually put a quantity on it. Then she added: “I might say double-digits could be fairly superior.”
The 19-year-old, introduced up idolizing legend Serena Williams, who completed her profession in 2022 with 23 main titles, says she isn’t certain if it’s attainable, however she desires to set the bar excessive so she doesn’t skimp with regards to pushing herself.
“I do not know if it’s going to occur, however I feel that is a excessive objective,” Gauff stated. “I feel setting my objectives excessive pushes me past what I feel I can do.”
The momentum is constructing 📈
How Coco Gauff might win a second-straight laborious courtroom Grand Slam ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/Us1ur7XDWL
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) January 11, 2024
2023 is within the rearview
The Florida native, who will face Anna Karolina Schmiedlova in her first spherical match in Melbourne, says it didn’t take her lengthy to overlook about profitable her first main title.
How lengthy? A few week, she advised reporters.
“After I went into China, I just about had it out of my head,” Gauff stated. “Then in the course of the low season we did have fun just a little bit simply because after the US Open, every thing was so quick.
“Now going into one other slam, it actually looks like so way back. I sort of overlook it occurred…”
New and improved serve
Gauff has centered as an alternative on bettering her recreation in order that she will be able to compete for extra majors. One factor she has devoted time to is fine-tuning her service toss. She stated the change was simple to implement.
“I feel for me, it was a really small change,” she stated. “It solely took me, like, two days to get – perhaps three – to get actually snug with it. It was simply to make the toss extra constant. As an alternative of throwing from so low to begin up increased to make the toss extra constant.
“Generally I nonetheless need to remind myself of it. I feel for essentially the most half I used to be actually open to it. I feel my serve is one thing that when it is on, it is a actually large weapon and may get me out of some conditions. Simply to make it extra constant was the objective.”