Australian Open: Gauff Mindset Is To Have Fun, Be Happy, Win Matches

Coco Gauff, Australian Open
Coco Gauff (photo: Tennis Australia/Scott Barbour)

MELBOURNE/WASHINGTON, January 15, 2024 (by Michael Dickens)

With one Grand Slam title in her portfolio, World No. 4 Coco Gauff has her sights set on more. She’s never been afraid to express her goals.

“I would say recently I feel like I wanted to get double-digits,” the fourth-seeded Gauff said during her pre-tournament news conference. “That’s, like, cool. But there’s no number. Who knows? That could change depending on how my career goes. I don’t know if it will happen, but I think that’s a high goal. I think setting my goals high pushes me beyond what I think I can do.”

On Monday afternoon as Day Two of the Australian Open commenced in Melbourne, the 19-year-old American superstar began her quest for a second straight major after winning the 2023 US Open. Against No. 68 Anna Karolina Schmiedlova of Slovakia – 10 years her senior – whom she’s beaten twice on clay, Gauff won easily 6-3, 6-0 in an hour. Next, she will face fellow American Caroline Dolehide, ranked 43rd.

Gauff, who successfully defended her WTA 250 title in Auckland last week, winning all five of her matches, improved to 6-0 in 2024 by winning the last nine consecutive games of the match against Schmiedlova after being broken three times in the first set. She hit 15 winners to 13 unforced errors, won 70 percent of her receiving points, converted seven of nine break points and outpointed her opponent 54-21. Schmiedlova mustered only two winners.

In her on-court interview, Gauff said of her mindset: “I feel good, I look good, so just have fun. … I’m just trying to be happy on the court.”

Looking ahead, Gauff has set a goal of winning an Olympic medal. She admitted it doesn’t matter what event – singles, doubles, mixed doubles. “I feel like a gold, silver, bronze, whatever medal it is, is one of those things it doesn’t matter,” she said on Friday. “Well, it does matter. Obviously, I want to win in singles. I feel like I would appreciate it just as much whether it was in singles or doubles. It’s not the same to me as a Slam I guess in a way.”

The bottom line according to Gauff is simple and straightforward:  “I think the biggest thing I’ve learned is that tennis, if more than anything, a mental game. Honestly, from Wimbledon to US Open, I improved, but not to the point where I go there’s a drastic difference between first round and winning a slam.

“Yeah, I improved, but I think it was more so the mental side I improved. I think that for me, I know the value and the power of the mind. I think I need to remember that for the rest of my life.”

A pair of wins for Ukraine

Elina Svitolina and Dayana Yastremska delivered twin victories for Ukraine. The 19th seed Svitolina’s 6-2, 6-2 triumph against 203rd-ranked Australian wild card Taylah Preston was expected. Svitolina was the first winner Monday on 1573 Arena, rallying from 2-1 down in the opening set to win six straight games. She broke her opponent’s serve six times.

“Happy to be back. Happy winning the first round again here,” Svitolina said in her news conference. “I mean, just happy with the way I started, yeah, Australian Open in general. Of course not easy at the beginning of the match, but then played quite solid, so I’m happy with the win today.”

However, it was the 23-year-old Yastremska, ranked 96th but in the main draw as a qualifier, who pulled off the biggest upset of the tournament so far. She took out reigning Wimbledon champion and No. 7 seed Marketa Vondrousova of the Czech Republic, 6-1, 6-2, in just 76 minutes on John Cain Arena. Yastremska hit 26 winners, converted five of 10 break points and outscored Vondrousova 67-44.

Around Melbourne Park

Monday’s Australian Open results

Tuesday’s Australian Open order of play

By the numbers

At age 19, American Coco Gauff is the oldest of 11 teenagers in the women’s singles main draw.

Quotable …”

“The most important thing is that I feel a lot more refreshed. I’m enjoying practicing. I’m enjoying every second that I’m out there. Even when I was down today, I was still just enjoying the challenge.

“I’m just happy with how I feel coming back. I feel like I was very burned out while I was playing, and that really wasn’t a nice feeling. Being able to just reset is really nice.”

— American Amanda Anisimova, during her post-match news conference Sunday after upsetting No. 13 seed Liudmila Samsonova of Russia, 6-3, 6-4. It was her second win of the season in three matches after taking a lengthy mental health sabbatical from the WTA Tour that began last April after going 3-8.

“I lost three first rounds in my last three Grand Slams. For me, it was a very difficult match emotionally. I’m happy I managed to do the right thing and play a good second set.”

— No. 8 seed Maria Sakkari of Greece, during her post-match news conference Sunday after she beat Nao Hibino of Japan 6-4, 6-1 for her first major win since last year’s Australian Open.

 

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