Coco Gauff’s Resilience Shines Through
From Disappointment to Triumph
Coco Gauff pays attention to what people say about her online and occasionally takes pleasure in clapping back, so it should not be a surprise that she took to social media to type out a message after wrapping up 2024 by winning the WTA Finals and the $4.8 million check that came with it.
“lol safe to say I beat the bad season allegations,” Gauff wrote.
A Year of Ups and Downs
After defeating the women ranked Nos. 1 and 2 — Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek — earlier in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Gauff got past Olympic gold medalist Zheng Qinwen 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (2) on Saturday in the title match. That allowed the No. 3 Gauff to close her year with a 54-17 record and three trophies.
“There’s been a lot of ups and downs. At moments, it felt great. At other moments, it felt awful. Basically, a typical year on tour,” the 20-year-old Floridian said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press.
Overcoming Adversity
The worst? Definitely my U.S. Open loss. I felt that was just a hard loss for me, because I double-faulted so many times,” Gauff said with a self-deprecating chuckle. “It felt like I was close but just didn’t give myself the best chance.”
How did she put aside that 19-double-fault, fourth-round loss to Emma Navarro in September as the defending champion at Flushing Meadows? That’s an important question, because as disappointing as the setback was — where it happened, how it happened — that marked a pivotal moment.
From there, Gauff split from coach Brad Gilbert and hired Matt Daly to work alongside Jean-Christophe “JC” Faurel on her team.
The Turning Point
And from there, Gauff went 13-2 at her last three tournaments, including two titles and a semifinal run.
“The key is when you reach a low, the only way you can go is up,” Gauff explained. “So at that point, I just said, ‘Well, I have to get better at some things, and just try to do that.’ Being a tennis player, you can’t miss a bunch of tournaments just to practice — I mean, you can, but I didn’t want to do that; I didn’t want to take that route — so I just decided to be willing to accept the losses and wins while working on things.”
Conclusion
Gauff’s response to, and rebound from, what happened in New York illustrates her resilience and determination. Her performance at the WTA Finals, including victories over Sabalenka and Swiatek, showcases her growth and confidence.
FAQs
Q: What was Coco Gauff’s record at the end of 2024?
A: 54-17
Q: How many trophies did Coco Gauff win in 2024?
A: Three
Q: Who did Coco Gauff split from after her U.S. Open loss?
A: Coach Brad Gilbert
Q: Who did Coco Gauff hire to work alongside Jean-Christophe “JC” Faurel on her team?
A: Matt Daly
