By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Friday January 19, 2024
A yr in the past Codey Gauff, one in every of Coco Gauff’s youthful brothers, gave her some sound recommendation: trick your thoughts for higher outcomes.
Gauff used his recommendation on the US Open, and it made reaching a seemingly inconceivable purpose a lot simpler to handle.
The 19-year-old American plans to maintain utilizing the psychological tactic at this yr’s Australian Open, the place she is into the spherical of 16 after a 6-0, 6-2 win over Alycia Parks on Day 6.
How does it work?
“Have enjoyable and calm down,” Gauff informed reporters. “I feel as you get later, the trophy clearly will get nearer and nearer. It’s a must to deal with it that it is as far-off as it’s should you’re within the first spherical. That is what I approached that last. I did not method it as I simply have to win two units and I’ve it. I approached it as I have to win seven matches once more after which I will get it.
“It was truly one thing my brother informed me, which is loopy.”
Gauff mentioned that Codey, who’s a baseball participant in the highschool class of 2026, tipped her off on a key mindset to include.
“He informed me, ‘Fake that you need to win three units as a substitute of two,’” she mentioned. “In case you put your mindset into the additional mile, then it appears simpler I assume in a method. He would say, ‘Okay, if you wish to win the Grand Slam, say you need to win eight matches as a substitute of seven.’ It is like altering your mindset so it feels additional.
Gauff mentioned the pair had the chat a couple of yr in the past.
“It all the time caught with me,” she mentioned. “I feel at French Open I felt prefer it was so shut, and I simply bought so tight. On the US Open it simply felt so far-off from the very first level of the match actually till match level was over.
“I feel tricking your thoughts type of relaxes the physique as a result of your thoughts controls your physique. It’s a must to trick your thoughts slightly bit.”