Coco Gauff training spectacular new talent as she reaches ‘final cease’ earlier than US

Coco Gauff desires so as to add “French speaker” to her resume with the 19-year-old tennis sensation not too long ago exhibiting off her bilingual abilities at Roland Garros and the Canadian Open in Montreal, utilizing phrases and greeting followers. “I have my longest streak on Duolingo today, which is only 26 days,” she joked in Canada. “Yeah, it’s not that great. I’m really trying.”

But now Gauff’s attention has turned toward Cincinnati, Ohio, in what she has called the “final cease earlier than [the] US Open.” Gauff is seeded No. 7 and will play Mayar Sherif on Wednesday evening.

A deep run into the Western & Southern Open could give Gauff a much-needed confidence boost. Gauff’s best finish in a Grand Slam this year was a quarterfinal appearance at the French Open – the tournament in which she played her first Grand Slam final in a year prior. Other than that, the American has had to settle for a fourth-round exit at the Aussie Open and a first-round exit at Wimbledon.

Gauff reached the quarterfinals of her home Grand Slam last year, losing to Caroline Garcia in three sets. And her tournament win at the Mubadala Citi DC Open against Maria Sakkari of Greece in the final also has the teenage tennis star in strong standing.

“After losing in first round of Wimbledon, it was a tough situation and a lot of prayer and a lot of support from my church family,” she said on court. “So thank you to [God] and those who support me.”

Guaff added: “Thank you to my workforce over there, it’s our first match as a full workforce so I’m glad that we have been in a position to make this consequence and thanks for sticking with me.”

Gauff is referring to Pere Riba and Brad Gilbert, who’s working with Gauff as a guide by way of the US Open. She recorded six-of-ten break factors and banged out seven aces towards 4 double faults whereas successful 70 p.c of first-serve factors in the course of the Mubadala Citi DC Open remaining and her typically shaky forehand held up.

“Her serve saved her in many dangerous situations and that was just the narrative of the whole tournament,” former professional, Andrea Petkovic stated. “[Gilbert] said they’ve been working on her return positions and I do credit that for her win today because she was trailing 1-4 in the head-to-head against Sakkari, and Coco’s return position really broke down Sakkari’s serve.”