CNN
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Coco Gauff he was ruthless and completely dominating her US Open quarter finals vs Jelena Ostapenkodropping simply two video games in a match that might have actually bothered the younger American.
Ostapenko, although blighted by inconsistency, needed to ask severe questions on Gauff’s title credentials after a powerful run in New York, however was simply swept apart 6-0 6-2 in simply over an hour.
Gauff has stepped up once more this season, notably through the second half of the yr, because the 19-year-old continues her rise to tennis stardom.
These enhancements had been on full show towards Ostapenko, with Gauff suffocating her opponent’s energy with booming groundstrokes and, crucially, a degree of accuracy and consistency the Latvian was unable to seek out.
The development in Gauff’s bodily attributes was clear for all to see at Flushing Meadows, however the world No. 6 gave an perception into the method of constructing the psychological toughness wanted to make deep runs at Grand Slams.
“I feel it is distinctive to every individual,” he instructed reporters. “It comes with trial and error. What I’ve realized from myself is that proper now I should not put a lot strain in these matches as a result of while you play these tournaments the strain is at all times there.
“They’re very intense and also you at all times wish to win. I’ve simply realized to handle that higher the extra I’ve gotten to this degree. You might have some individuals who already do it once they come on tour and others who have to study.
“I feel that is simply a part of life and simply a part of studying. That is why typically somebody has an ideal consequence, like once they stroll out the doorways, after which it is arduous to help them as a result of they’ve by no means been on this place.
“The extra I acquired into this place, the extra I might simply study to deal with it.”
That strain will intensify much more when Gauff takes on Karolína Muchová within the US Open semifinals on Thursday.
The highlight is rarely brighter for a participant than when she’s enjoying in a grand slam at residence, however Gauff dealt with the event with a maturity that belies her years, with out ever seeming to endure below the burden of expectations.
Nonetheless, {the teenager} admits it wasn’t at all times like that and with the ability to deal with the strain like she does now was a course of that took time.
Among the many issues that helped probably the most with that course of, Gauff stated, was placing her life “into perspective” when she began feeling overwhelmed.
“To start with, I used to assume detrimental issues,” he recalled. “Like why is there a lot strain? Why is that this so arduous? Blah, blah, blah. I understand, in a manner, it is strain, however it’s not. I imply, there are individuals struggling to feed their households, individuals who do not know the place their subsequent meal goes to return from, individuals who must pay their payments.
“That is actual strain, that is actual hardship, that is actual life. I am in a really privileged place, I receives a commission to do what I really like and I am supported to do what I really like. That is one thing I do not take as a right .
“So I actually put my life into perspective, and particularly in New York, I really feel such as you see that perspective much more, particularly in comparison with the place I dwell,” Gauff added. “I’ve a fortunate life and so I ought to take pleasure in it.
“I do know there are thousands and thousands of people that most likely wish to be on this place that I am in proper now, so as a substitute of claiming, ‘Why this, why that?’ I ought to simply say, ‘Why not me? Why am I not having fun with this? I ought to.”
Gauff stated she’s “having lots of enjoyable” enjoying tennis now, and that enjoyment is clear when she steps out onto the court docket. “I used to be similar to, ‘Man, I ought to take pleasure in this,'” he defined.
That enjoyment additionally spills over into her interviews and press conferences, the place Gauff is affable, real and humorous, traits which are more and more endearing her not simply to American followers, however to these all over the world.
It helps, Gauff stated, to “not take into consideration the outcomes” and simply deal with having enjoyable.
“I am dwelling a fortunate life and I am very blessed. I do not wish to take it as a right,” she stated. “In order that’s the explanation why, I feel it is placing my life into perspective and realizing how grateful and blessed I’m.”
