Coco Gauff’s success at Wimbledon has been great to watch, but has come completely out of left field.
After all, given she had not won a single match on grass in the two years prior to this campaign, to have now made it into the semi-finals of the sport’s premier event on this surface has surprised many.
Reporters also seem not to have predicted such a performance, and so were keen to pick the American’s brains on the topic.
Speaking at her post-match press conference after scoring a comeback win against Jessica Pegula, Coco Gauff gave her thoughts.
Coco Gauff says if she’s been surprised by her run at Wimbledon this year
Asked if she was surprised by all she has already accomplished at such a young age, and now at Wimbledon, she admitted: “Yeah, I didn’t think this would be the year, honestly, to be fair. I mean, I think maybe the biggest thing is the athletic ability that I have. I am a good mover. I think, because of that, it translates to all surfaces. That’s why I’m maybe having good results so far on all of them.
“Then also, I’m not going to lie, I’ve been here since 15, so I’ve had a lot more opportunities to play these tournaments than other people. It just gives me more chances, I guess, of success. So I think that’s also the main thing, having that early experience early on of making a second week of a slam, having that belief.
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“At 15, I was entering almost every slam, expecting that I can make it to the quarters. I think that was also like a big thing.”
Tracy Austin noticed something unusual about Gauff during her win over Pegula, but she will not care. She will now begin her preparation for Thursday’s semi-final clash with Karolina Muchova, who beat Naomi Osaka earlier today.
Coco Gauff could already have one foot in the Wimbledon final
There is cause for immense optimism from within the Gauff camp, given who she is set to face next.
After all, whilst Muchova is obviously in fine form and boasts the qualities necessary to trouble anyone on the WTA Tour, she seemingly cannot string those talents together when she faces the 21-year-old.
In seven meetings with Gauff, the Czech star has won just one, albeit their most recent clash in Stuttgart.
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However, this will be their first-ever match against one another on grass.
Gauff will not be resting on her laurels after today’s sensational performance against Pegula, but can feel confident that, with Muchova next, her chances of reaching the Wimbledon final must be amplified given their history.
