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At 18, Coco Gauff already has the experience of playing in a Grand Slam final, be it singles or doubles tennis. However, she is yet to cross the final frontier and bag that elusive all-important Grand Slam title. While she has also already climbed to the doubles World No. 1 spot in the past, the bigger goal is to reach the rankings summit in singles.
To achieve those goals, Gauff believes she needs to improve her approach to the big finals from a tactical standpoint. She feels that her mental approach is right up there.
Gauff reached last year's French Open final in both singles and doubles (w/Jessica Pegula) and she also made the doubles final of the 2021 US Open (w/Caty McNally). Gauff will now resume her bid for a Grand Slam title at the French Open in May, exactly a year since her maiden Major final, after she was unable to taste ultimate success at the Australian Open last month.
As she competes in this week's Qatar Open for the first time since the Australian Open, Gauff threw light on what she lacks, and thus aims to improve upon, in her bid to win Grand Slams and become the singles No. 1.
"I think just how I approach the game tactically. I think mentally I'm approaching it in a somewhat good way," Coco Gauff stated in a press conference at the 2023 WTA Qatar Open.
Gauff is aware that she must improve her tactical approach, but also believes that she will truly understand what it takes to win the biggest prizes in the sport only when she crosses the final hurdle and gets there.
"There is always improvements that need to be made, but it's one of those questions that I won't have the answer for until I get to that step and until I complete that step," Gauff continued.
"I mean, I think I know that I need to fix things tactically, but, you know, I feel like reaching a Grand Slam final and winning it is something that you really don't know how it's going to feel until you actually do it."
"I don't need to swing for the fences, but I need to be more offensive" - Coco Gauff highlights aspects of her game she is working on
Coco Gauff feels she needs to become more offensive and aggressive than she is on the court. While the 18-year-old American stressed that her style of play cannot be termed as 'defensive', she has realized that taking more risks and going on offense more often than she does will help her greatly. Gauff also stated her belief that she has the physical capabilities to develop an 'all-round game' that will help her win more consistently.
"I wouldn't say I'm completely a defensive player. I can hit big shots, but I think it's something I need to do more often," Coco Gauff said on the same.
"That's what I'm working on and doing it at the right moments, as well. Not that I need to be stepping inside the court and being a big hitter, because I feel like I have the physicality to play more of an all-around game," she added.
"So I think I don't need to swing for the fences, but also think I need to be more offensive."
Despite her earlier-than-expected exit from the Australian Open, Gauff started the 2023 season on a very positive note, winning eight of her first nine singles matches on tour and clinching the ASB Classic title in the process. Seeded fourth at the Qatar Open, the Atlanta, Georgia native is looking for her 4th career WTA singles title this week.
