Coco Gauff advances to US Open 2023 semi-finals with victory over Jelena Ostapenko
US Open: Coco Gauff Emotionally Fresh as She Reaches Semi-Finals
American teenage sensation Coco Gauff has made her mark at the US Open, reaching the semi-finals for the first time in her career. In a dominant display of skill and determination, the 19-year-old defeated Jelena Ostapenko with a stunning 6-0 6-2 victory that lasted just over an hour.
Gauff admitted that emotional fatigue had been a challenge for her in previous Grand Slams but felt confident and refreshed this time around. “I think the problem in the past in Grand Slams is that I would emotionally be drained,” she explained. “Now I’m physically fresh and emotionally fresh, and I think that just came from experience.”
The sixth seed will face either Karolina Muchova or Sorana Cirstea in Thursday’s semi-final match. Another win would propel Gauff to her second major singles final, following her impressive run at the French Open earlier this year where she finished runner-up.
This recent success at Flushing Meadows comes after an exceptional North American hard-court swing which saw Gauff claim two of the WTA Tour’s most prestigious titles in Washington and Cincinnati. The young star attributes much of her improvement to new coach Pere Riba and consultant Brad Gilbert.
Riba’s guidance has helped Gauff find joy in playing tennis again. “I wish I embraced the fun parts a little bit sooner,” she admitted. With Gilbert’s encouragement to smile more, Gauff has been able to strike a better balance between focus and enjoyment on the court.
With a remarkable record of winning 16 out of her last 17 matches since Wimbledon, Gauff is proving to be a force to be reckoned with. Her resilience was evident in previous rounds at the US Open where she fought back from difficult situations against tough opponents.
Ostapenko, who had eliminated world number one Iga Swiatek in the previous round, struggled to find her rhythm against Gauff. Unforced errors plagued Ostapenko’s game as she failed to handle Gauff’s relentless pressure.
Despite concerns about the scheduling of their match, which began at an early hour, there were no excuses from Ostapenko after her defeat. The Latvian player believed that starting so early affected her performance but organizers denied any favoritism towards their American counterpart.
Gauff remains focused on continuing this successful run and hopes to make it all the way through the tournament. With her newfound emotional freshness and improved mindset on court, anything is possible for this rising star in women’s tennis.