By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Friday January 12, 2024
It’s no secret that Coco Gauff has loads of self-belief. After media day on Friday on the Australian Open, it’s even much less of a secret.
Gauff, who received her maiden main on the 2023 US Open, talked about quite a lot of topics, from her improved serve to her potential to place her crowning achievement prior to now. She additionally talked in regards to the excessive expectations she has set for herself.
Requested what number of Grand Slam titles she thinks she will be able to win, Gauff mentioned she didn’t actually put a quantity on it. Then she added: “I might say double-digits can 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 positive if it’s doable, however she needs to set the bar excessive so she doesn’t skimp relating to pushing herself.
“I do not know if it should occur, however I believe that is a excessive objective,” Gauff mentioned. “I believe setting my targets excessive pushes me past what I believe I can do.”
The momentum is constructing 📈
How Coco Gauff may win a second-straight arduous 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 neglect about successful her first main title.
How lengthy? A couple of week, she instructed reporters.
“Once I went into China, I just about had it out of my head,” Gauff mentioned. “Then through the low season we did have a good time a bit of bit simply because after the US Open, all the things was so quick.
“Now going into one other slam, it actually looks like so way back. I type of neglect 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 mentioned the change was straightforward to implement.
“I believe for me, it was a really small change,” she mentioned. “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 start out up larger to make the toss extra constant.
“Typically I nonetheless must remind myself of it. I believe for probably the most half I used to be actually open to it. I believe my serve is one thing that when it is on, it is a actually huge weapon and might get me out of some conditions. Simply to make it extra constant was the objective.”
