Coco Gauff addresses pressure of expectations and fan criticism as she loses WTA Finals match; reveals using "pettiness" to clap back.

 

Coco Gauff's winning spree at the 2024 WTA Finals came to a grinding halt in her third and final Round Robin phase match. The World No. 3 was beaten 5-7, 4-6 by reigning Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova. After the match, Gauff revealed how she uses "pettiness" to deal with high expectations and criticism from fans.

Gauff produced stellar performances across her first two matches; first against compatriot Jessica Pegula (6-3, 6-2) and then against five-time Major winner Iga Swiatek (6-3, 6-4). However, against Krejcikova, she was particularly poor when it came to making the most of her break point opportunities. Gauff converted only one out of 12 break point chances, whereas Krejcikova herself had four of them and converted three.

After the match, Coco Gauff interacted with reporters at a press conference. One reporter asked the World No. 3 how she balances the pressure of expectations with her love and joy for tennis. In response, Gauff said:

The 2023 US Open champion went on to talk about how she tricks her mind into using people's criticism of her as motivation.

The loss to Krejcikova at the 2024 WTA Finals was inconsequential for Gauff, as she had already qualified for the semifinals.

Coco Gauff is set to take on a familiar foe in reigning World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the semifinals of the 2024 WTA Finals. Sabalenka, similar to Gauff, had secured her semifinal spot after winning her first two Round Robin phase matches against Zheng Qinwen and Jasmine Paolini. And just like Coco Gauff, she lost her third Round Robin phase match (to Elena Rybakina).

Gauff and Sabalenka have faced each other on eight previous occasions, with the head-to-head being level at 4-4. In 2024, they met for the first time in the Australian Open semifinals, where Sabalenka emerged victorious and later clinched the title.

Their second meeting came at the Wuhan Open in October. It was another semifinal showdown between the two, with the Belarusian once again emerging triumphant en route to the title.

Published By: Adegboye Solomon Oluwole.