Andy Murray’s ex-coach protecting Coco Gauff smiling as star eyes US Open title

Coco Gauff has pledged to maintain on smiling as Cocomania is cranked as much as fever pitch earlier than she bids to succeed in her first US Open ultimate. And she has revealed Andy Murray’s former coach helps her to “enjoy” her tennis once more.

The No.6 seed is the primary American teenager to succeed in the semi-finals herd since 19-year-old Serena Williams in 2001. And with the retirement of the 23-time Grand Slam singles winner her final 12 months, Gauff has turn into the brand new queen of Queens at her dwelling Grand Slam watched by NBA and Hollywood stars.

In town that by no means sleeps, there isn’t a relaxation from the hype. Her former coach Patrick Patrick Mouratoglou declared: “She is ready for greatness.” Her potential first attracted international consideration when the then 15-year-old beat Venus Williams at Wimbledon in 2019.

But after she misplaced within the first spherical in SW19, she appointed a brand new teaching workforce of veteran Brad Gilbert – who labored with Murray in 2006-07 – and Spaniard Pere Riba. And has received 16 out of 17 matches since – together with titles in Washington and Cincinnati – earlier than going through Czech No.10 seed and self-confessed “tough cookie” Karolina Muchova tonight.

“I wish I embraced the fun parts a little bit sooner,” stated Gauff, 19. “I thought to play and win you have to be ultra serious and ultra focused but also you still have to enjoy it. I think the change is that I’m having more fun.

“One of the first things Braid said before he started coaching with me was you need to smile more. I was a little bit surprised. I started to think and I was like: Yeah, I do’. That’s something I’m trying to work on and obviously I think it’s helping my results.

“I think it’s just putting my life into perspective. At first I used to think negative things, like: ‘Why is there so much pressure, why is this so hard, blah, blah, blah?’ I realise it’s pressure but it’s not. There are people struggling to feed their families, people who don’t know where their next meal is going to come from, people who have to pay their bills. That’s real pressure, that’s real hardship, that’s real life. In a very privileged position, I’m getting paid to do what I love and getting support to do what I love.

“I told myself: ‘Man, I should enjoy this. I’m having so much fun doing it. I should not think about the results, I’m living a very lucky life and I’m so blessed. I feel emotionally fresh.”

Ben Shelton, 20, joined the younger American wave on the US Open by beating Frances Tiafoe to arrange a Friday semi-final with Novak Djokovic. “It’s pretty cool for me to be a part of it,” he stated. “I love to see American tennis going in a great direction.”