Teenage Sensation Coco Gauff Battles Into US Open Second Round
28th August 2019
The 15-year-old American, who ousted idol Venus Williams on her way to the fourth round at Wimbledon, drew energy from a cheering crowd at Louis Armstrong Stadium to advance
- Wimbledon teen sensation Coco Gauff shook off nerves and rallied Tuesday to reach the second round of the US Open, defeating Russia's Anastasia Potapova 3-6, 6-2, 6-4
- Potapova, an 18-year-old also making her US Open main draw debut, jumped ahead 3-0 and took the first set
- Gauff faces Hungarian qualifier Timea Babos on Thursday with a possible showdown against top-ranked defending champion Naomi Osaka of Japan in the third round
NEW YORK, United
States- Wimbledon teen sensation Coco Gauff shook off nerves and rallied
Tuesday to reach the second round of the US Open, defeating Russia's Anastasia Potapova
3-6, 6-2, 6-4.
The 15-year-old American, who ousted idol Venus Williams on
her way to the fourth round at Wimbledon, drew energy from a cheering crowd at
Louis Armstrong Stadium to advance.
"It was because of the crowd," Gauff said.
"No matter where I was on the court, I could always hear somebody
supporting me and I'm grateful for that."
It was an atmosphere that forced Gauff to soak in the moment
and accept the nervousness that followed.
"It was crazy," she said. "I was nervous
going out on the court, such a big court, and my home Slam, I wanted to do
well. It was a great atmosphere to play in and a great experience for me."
Potapova, an 18-year-old also making her US Open main draw
debut, jumped ahead 3-0 and took the first set.
MUST
READ: Norwich, Crystal Palace Knocked Out Of EFL Cup By Fourth Tier Sides
"I was like, 'I have to reset, stop thinking about what
would happen after the match, just think about what I need to do to win the
second set,'" Gauff said.
She rolled to a 4-1 edge in the final set before Potapova fought
back.
"I wanted to win and I was trying to calm myself
down," Gauff said. "It was the crowd that helped me because I was
down and I was almost out."
Gauff faces Hungarian qualifier Timea Babos on Thursday with
a possible showdown against top-ranked defending champion Naomi Osaka of Japan
in the third round.
"I first met Naomi (when) I hit with her at the Miami
Open maybe three years ago," Gauff said. "Our dads always knew each
other. When I talked to her, we do have similarities.
"She's doing amazing, obviously. Hopefully I can get to
her level. I mean, she's amazing. She's a nice person. I can't even say
anything bad about her, her family, because they've always been super nice,
even since I was 12."
READ
ALSO: Norwich, Crystal Palace Knocked Out Of EFL Cup By Fourth Tier Sides
Gauff forgot she has a rest day between matches and
admitted, "I really don't remember the match too well because everything
is still a blur."
Gauff sees mostly benefits to her new-found fame, the most
meaning when she can inspire others.
"The amount of people, and kids especially, that come
up to me saying I inspire them is better than any match I could win, just to
know that I inspire another kid maybe to pick up a racquet or go through
something they're facing at school," Gauff said.
"I just hope I can continue to inspire. What I do on
court is great, but what really matters is what happens off court, the people
who you affect."