Gauff ‘feels the love’ in Mexico after trouncing Jabeur
The US Open champion won 6-0 6-1 in her first WTA Finals win after failing in every match last year
31 October 2023 - 15:41
byChiranjit Ojha
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Coco Gauff of the United States speaks to the media during the GNP Seguros WTA Finals Cancun 2023 part of the Hologic WTA Tour at Paradisus Cancun on October 28, 2023 in Cancun, Mexico. Picture: SARAH STIER/GETTY IMAGES Image: Sarah Stier
Bengaluru — US Open champion Coco Gauff said she was “feeling the love” in rainy Cancun, Mexico, after her 6-0 6-1 demolition of Ons Jabeur in her first group stage match of the WTA Finals on Monday.
The start of the match was delayed and later interrupted by rain when Gauff was leading 1-0 in the second set. She maintained her momentum when play resumed to claim a dominant win over her Tunisian Group B opponent.
“I got a marriage proposal yesterday so I’m feeling the love here in Cancun,” Gauff said with a laugh after the match, thanking the crowd who showed up despite the weather.
“I honestly wasn’t expecting as much support today … I appreciate you guys and hopefully we can get a lot more people to come as the week continues.”
The 19-year-old’s first victory in WTA Finals came after a winless campaign last year and it made her the first American teenager to win a match at the WTA Finals since Venus Williams in 1999. In September, Gauff became the first teenager to win the US Open since Serena Williams in 1999.
“Zendaya sent me flowers to my house,” Gauff told Tennis Channel after Monday’s win, referring to the actress as she spoke about life after winning the Grand Slam.
“It was like a huge bouquet of flowers. My brother and I struggled to lift it up on the table. I think it weighed at least [20kg]. It was so heavy. I think that was the coolest thing.”
Gauff revealed that her focus throughout the match was not to let the rain interruption derail her.
“Sometimes you win a couple [of] games and the rain delay happens and the match can completely turn around,” she said. “But I was able to stay steady the whole time.”
Gauff, who qualified for the WTA Finals as the third seed, will face second seed Iga Swiatek in her next Group B outing on Wednesday.
Swiatek started her campaign earlier on Monday with a 7-6 (7-3) 6-0 win over Marketa Vondrousova.
Swiatek, a Polish former world No 1, beat Gauff in straight sets in last year’s WTA Finals, and won three of their four subsequent matches.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Gauff ‘feels the love’ in Mexico after trouncing Jabeur
The US Open champion won 6-0 6-1 in her first WTA Finals win after failing in every match last year
Image: Sarah Stier
Bengaluru — US Open champion Coco Gauff said she was “feeling the love” in rainy Cancun, Mexico, after her 6-0 6-1 demolition of Ons Jabeur in her first group stage match of the WTA Finals on Monday.
The start of the match was delayed and later interrupted by rain when Gauff was leading 1-0 in the second set. She maintained her momentum when play resumed to claim a dominant win over her Tunisian Group B opponent.
“I got a marriage proposal yesterday so I’m feeling the love here in Cancun,” Gauff said with a laugh after the match, thanking the crowd who showed up despite the weather.
“I honestly wasn’t expecting as much support today … I appreciate you guys and hopefully we can get a lot more people to come as the week continues.”
The 19-year-old’s first victory in WTA Finals came after a winless campaign last year and it made her the first American teenager to win a match at the WTA Finals since Venus Williams in 1999. In September, Gauff became the first teenager to win the US Open since Serena Williams in 1999.
“Zendaya sent me flowers to my house,” Gauff told Tennis Channel after Monday’s win, referring to the actress as she spoke about life after winning the Grand Slam.
“It was like a huge bouquet of flowers. My brother and I struggled to lift it up on the table. I think it weighed at least [20kg]. It was so heavy. I think that was the coolest thing.”
Gauff revealed that her focus throughout the match was not to let the rain interruption derail her.
“Sometimes you win a couple [of] games and the rain delay happens and the match can completely turn around,” she said. “But I was able to stay steady the whole time.”
Gauff, who qualified for the WTA Finals as the third seed, will face second seed Iga Swiatek in her next Group B outing on Wednesday.
Swiatek started her campaign earlier on Monday with a 7-6 (7-3) 6-0 win over Marketa Vondrousova.
Swiatek, a Polish former world No 1, beat Gauff in straight sets in last year’s WTA Finals, and won three of their four subsequent matches.
Reuters
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