Sloane Stephens does have a setback. Coco Gauff at their first encounter since a seven-year-old birthday party.
NEW YORK (AP) — Coco Gauff invited one of her heroes, a 21-year-old tennis star called Sloane Stephens, to her birthday celebration when she was ten years old.
Stephens came up despite the fact that it seemed to be a long shot. Gauff recalls how strange it was to have a professional tennis player at her gathering.
Seven years later, Gauff found herself in another bizarre situation: playing Stephens in the second level from the Us Event for the first time in their careers.
Gauff’s recollection of this event will certainly be less pleasant. Stephens dominated No. 21 seed Gauff, winning in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2. Stephens advanced to the third round in only 66 minutes.
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Stephens said early on in the event that she wants to reclaim her previous supremacy.
She won the US Open in 2017 — the same year she competed in the junior US Open finals as a 13-year-old — but dropped out of the top 20 in 2019, and then out of the top 60 in 2020.
She is presently rated No. 66, but her victory on Wednesday night may be seen as a turning moment for the 28-year-old.
Gauff was broken three times, and she held all of her serves. Her forehand power and placement were excellent, making her match against Gauff even more exciting.
Gauff stated after the match, “I’ll say she probably struck her forehand the best I’ve seen in a long time.” “It’s also possible that it’s simply different since this is my first encounter with her.
As a result, I’ve never practised with her… That might simply be me since it’s the first time I’ve felt her ball.
“However, she performed well tonight. Tonight, she was unquestionably the superior player.”
Unlike Stephens, who has been in 112 Grand Slam matches, Gauff is still relatively new to the game.
That isn’t to suggest she hasn’t achieved much: as a wild card in the 2019 U.S. Open, she advanced to the third round — a youngest person to do so since Anna Kournikova in 1996 — but simply to indicate there is still space for improvement.
Gauff stated, “I feel like I’ve learnt that I’m capable of making it far in slams.” “I believe that if I tighten up a few things, I can win one.” I’ve lost to guys who have advanced to the quarterfinals or won in the end in the last two of slams, so it proves that I’m capable.
“I feel like I’m missing out on some kind of experience. It certainly shows, in my opinion. I believe I just need to play more matches in order to feel more at ease in high-pressure situations.”
Stephens met her buddy at the net after the match finished, telling her, “I love you,” before they parted ways.
In an on-court interview, Stephens remarked, “I believe everyone knows I adore Coco.” “She’s such a fantastic player, and I consider myself very fortunate to have seen her develop and play since she was around eight years old. I’ve watched her game evolve and develop dramatically.
I’m very pleased of the player she is, as well as the girl she is and will become.”
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Sloane Stephens downs Coco Gauff in their first meeting since a birthday party seven years ago
