Coco Gauff is preparing to return to tennis next week, as the top seed heading into the Canadian Open.
After all, with Aryna Sabalenka absent, it marks a huge opportunity for someone other than the Belarusian to win at least this hard-court event, given she is the reigning champion in Cincinnati and New York.
Given how poor she was during last year’s North American swing of the tour, the 21-year-old will be hoping she can start this leg of the season well in Montreal.
Speaking to the press upon returning to the event, she sought to preview the event, outlining the trouble that transitioning from different surfaces can cause.
However, there’s a secret she was keen to tell that other players might not agree with.
Coco Gauff previews her return to the Montreal National Bank Open
The top-ranked American will naturally carry the burden of expectation once again heading into this portion of the tour, although this is a sensation that is not new to her.
For years now, this youngster has had pressure heaped upon her young shoulders, and yet time and time again, she delivers.
This year it came at the French Open, and in 2023 it was the US Open. Slowly, Coco Gauff is putting together a lasting legacy that will be remembered for decades to come.
Her experience on the clay this year was so transformative that she is even suggesting that it will remain useful now, despite playing on the Canadian, and later American hard courts.
She told reporters at the Canadian Open: “The secret is in all the previous work, both on the court and with my physical trainer in the gym, the time on clay still has a very important effect due to the mobility that is needed to move well on clay.
“Tennis forces you to adapt all the time to new situations, so you always have to be prepared for those changes, so now my intention is to repeat the same move and have a good North American tour on hard courts.”
This marks the first time we have seen the two-time Grand Slam champion since Wimbledon, but her former coach has been rather vocal, with Brad Gilbert dispelling one rumour he heard about Jannik Sinner ahead of the US Open.
Coco Gauff will be hoping to end Aryna Sabalenka’s reign of hard-court dominance
As touched upon earlier, Gauff will be one of many keen to end Sabalenka’s reign of dominance on the hard courts.
After all, were it not for Madison Keys’ heroics in Melbourne, the 27-year-old would have won all of the last three majors played on this surface.
However, last year in particular, she hit such a stride that made her practically unbeatable, winning the Cincinnati Open at a canter, before then crushing Jessica Pegula in the final of the US Open as well.
It was a comprehensive few months, where Sabalenka cemented herself as the best player in the world.
This time around, the atmosphere is different, given she has yet to win a major this year despite reaching two finals and another semifinal.
Many believe that, for a change, she is there for the taking. Gauff proved this more than anyone in Paris, and should be confident in repeating that feat should they meet again over the next few months.
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