Coco Gauff expresses that a TikTok comment influenced her outlook, commencing her US Open title defense with a resounding triumph.
The third-ranked player in the world has been fighting to find her form in the latter part of the season, including a loss in her opening match of the Cincinnati Open, where she was the defending champion.
However, on Monday, Gauff appeared much more like herself.
The 20-year-old credits a TikTok follower with helping shift her mindset heading into the US Open as the defending champion.
"Someone on TikTok commented, 'You've won in life, literally and figuratively, and there's no need to pile pressure on yourself during a victory lap.' So I'm treating this tournament like that. If you've defended something, it means you've won something. If you've done it, you can do it again. So whether I do it again this year or not, I will do it again – whether it's 2024 or not – I will do it again," she said.
Gauff acknowledged that there's "a lot of pressure" coming into the US Open but that she's now able to appreciate it more.
"If I had played this last week, it would have been really tough, but my perspective has changed a lot in seven days," she added. "I was just trying to enjoy the match, and I enjoyed it today. It was straightforward, but even if it had been tighter, these are the moments you live for. I'm just happy to be back on this court and playing like I did."
Gauff noted that the past few weeks have been challenging, but she believes she's played her best tennis in a while.
She'll face Tatjana Maria in the second round.
Meanwhile, Gauff's fellow American Taylor Fritz defeated Argentina's Camilo Ugo Carabelli 7-5 6-1 6-2. Fritz made it to the quarterfinals of the US Open last year, marking a career-high achievement in New York.
Gauff's victory in the Cincinnati Open last year earned her the title of defending champion in tennis, a prestigious position in the sport. Despite facing challenges in recent weeks, she managed to find her stride again, playing some of her best tennis lately.
