In an intriguing confession, American tennis sensation Coco Gauff revealed her unusual mindset during her recent Miami Open triumph over Sofia Kenin: she had actually been hoping to lose a game. Gauff, currently the world’s third-ranked player, stormed through the match with a blistering 6-0, 6-0 victory, concluding the engagement in a mere 47 minutes.
The 21-year-old prodigy, however, admitted to a sense of unease about the one-sided progress of the match, and how a potential point for Kenin may have eased her anxiety. Despite her reservations, Gauff’s performance against the 2020 Australian Open champion remained faultless, ending in a comprehensive ‘double-bagel’ victory.
Gauff’s recent performance contrasts starkly with her Indian Wells exit, where she was defeated in the round of 16. Bouncing back with unruffled resolve, she started her Miami campaign demonstrating an impeccable game against Kenin, ceding a mere 18 points throughout the match. The convincing victory propelled her into the third round without the surrender of a single game.
Reflecting on her flawless performance, Gauff confessed to Sky Sports, “Honestly, when I was like 3-0, I was like, I kind of wanted to lose a game because I knew I was going to be nervous at 5-0,”. She further added, “I wanted it because I don’t know how many times it will happen again, hopefully a little bit more but I feel this is a one or two-time [in my] career type of thing.”
The young star’s improved performance in Miami over Indian Wells was unsurprising. Growing up in Delray Beach, she has a natural affinity for the Florida climate and the familiar court conditions. Gauff opined, “Definitely being in the Florida humidity, the ball doesn’t fly through the air as much and the courts are a little bit more similar to what I practice on.”
She went on to highlight the advantages of playing in conditions she’s accustomed to, acknowledging the challenge posed by Indian Wells but refusing to use it as an excuse. Gauff’s defeat at Indian Wells, however, had a silver lining: it gave her time off to celebrate her 21st birthday.
Reflecting on her milestone birthday, Gauff shared, “It’s been great so far, I feel the same but it’s cool to just feel a little bit older, legal in the US and things like that,”. She also revealed her preferred refreshments at her party, “A lavender lemon drop, because purple is my favourite colour so I wanted to get something purple then I had a few margaritas the next day. I like those because they’re a little bit sweeter and I can’t taste anything. But not too much! I had to be ready for this,” she added with a laugh.
