Coco Gauff has been backed to rediscover her confidence at the US Open.
The 20-year-old is set to defend the title which she won by defeating Aryna Sabalenka in the 2023 final.
Since then Gauff reached a career-high ranking of number two, and achieved her best result at the Australian Open by reaching the semi-finals.
Other than some other quarter-final and semi-final showings, Gauff has not stamped her authority on the WTA Tour in the manner many were expecting this year.
What prediction was made by a Sky Sports commentator about Coco Gauff at the US Open?
Coco Gauff has managed just one title win in 2024 and her form has plummeted since Wimbledon.
Since Gauff lost to Emma Navarro in the round of 16 at SW19, the world number three has failed to go beyond that stage of any other tournament.
She lost the number two ranking and Gauff has not looked herself on court in recent weeks as the pressure of defending the US Open may be taking its toll.
Her form heading into such a big tournament is concerning, but Sky Sports commentator Jonathan Overend thinks that arriving back at Flushing Meadows will help Gauff rediscover the form that took her to the title last year.
“The minute she comes back through gates at Flushing Meadows, the memories from 12 months ago will return and the confidence with it,” Overend said.
“I think she’ll have huge support… and that will absolutely lift her and bring the best out of her again. It’s that untouchable, unquantifiable piece of the jigsaw puzzle.
“How much does it inspire a player when they return to a place where they’ve won before? I think it will count for a lot, I really do.”
Coco Gauff has work to do ahead of her US Open title defence
Unlike 2023 when Gauff entered the US Open after winning the Washington and Cincinnati titles, she will commence this year’s edition of the Grand Slam following back-to-back defeats.
Gauff lost to Diana Shnaider in Toronto before Yulia Putiseva beat Gauff 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 in the opening round in Cincinnati.
Annabel Croft described Gauff as a player who looks “burdened by the pressure and expectation,” and Gauff herself said she needed time to reset and figure out how to change things on court ahead of the US Open.
“I feel like I have to work on consistency, overall. [I will] probably go home and try to reset,” she told the WTA Tour. “Obviously, I have a lot coming up soon with the US Open, so I think just trying to reset and be ready for that.”
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
