Coco Gauff was able to come through a very closely fought opening match at the US Open against Ajla Tomljanovic.
Gauff knew she would be tested in her opening round match against Tomljanovic, who beat Serena Williams in her last match at the US Open in 2022.
There was also the added dynamic of having a new team, with Gauff splitting with coach Matt Daly and hiring biomechanical expert Gavin MacMillan to help improve her recent serving woes.
Despite it not being an easy opener, Gauff hit some nerveless shots in important moments to win the match.
Coco Gauff explains what she was telling herself when serving for the match against Ajla Tomljanovic
Gauff was left mentally exhausted after beating Tomljanovic, 6-4 6(2)-7 7-5, in three hours on the Arthur Ashe Stadium.
There has been a lot of talk surrounding Gauff’s serve coming into the US Open this year, and she had already been broken six times by Tomljanovic going into the final game.
After getting a potentially decisive break, Gauff had the opportunity to serve for the match at 6-5, something she had previously failed to do at 5-4.
When speaking in her post-match press conference after the match, Gauff revealed what she was telling herself in the final game of the match that helped her win.
“The approach, people have told me certain different things but now it actually makes sense,” explained Gauff. “And now it’s just really trusting the new motion in those moments.
“Basically I told myself at 6-5, I was like I have to trust the work that we did on court and that is what I did in that game. It’s a new motion and at times I do it well, and at times not so well, but when I do it well or when I do it, it’s always a good result, it’s just reminding myself how to do it.
“But obviously there are so many things going through my head at those tough moments, I’m not just thinking about the serve, I’m thinking how to play out the point, where to serve, what she is going to do. So it’s tough but I think I just have to remember how I felt in moments today and try to use that in the next match.”
Coco Gauff says what she really thinks about Gavin MacMillan as a person and coach
This was the first match that Gauff has played since bringing MacMillan into her team, and she has now provided an update on how the relationship is developing.
MacMillan has previously helped Aryna Sabalenka’s serve, and Gauff could only say positive things about him, as she spoke about her future plans.
“He’s a very nice guy,” said Gauff. “I think a lot of it, I do trust him, because a lot of it – there is some facts and science behind it instead of someone just telling you to do this and you just do it.
“I believe in a coach and a plan, I can play some good tennis and I think for me it’s just trying to trust all the things we worked on on the court.
“It’s been only a week but I hope I am here in the second week and there’s a much different plan. But if not I am looking forward regardless of how this tournament goes, I hope I’m here until the end, but I am looking forward to having a lot of time before Asia.”
Gauff will look to continue these positive feelings in her second round match at the US Open, where she will play Olympic silver medallist Donna Vekic.
This could be a potential concern for Gauff, as she was beaten by Vekic at the Paris Games last year, but she has since been able to get revenge at the United Cup.
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
