Coco Gauff has enjoyed a strong summer, making deep runs at both Wimbledon and the Canadian Open, though she came short in the semifinals. At Wimbledon, Gauff came within one point of reaching her first final before losing a final-set tiebreak to Karolína Muchová, while in Toronto, she won the opening set against World No. 2 Elena Rybakina but lost the next two sets 6-2, 6-2. Despite these disappointing results, Gauff remains positive about them ahead of the Cincinnati Open.
Coco Gauff Reveals Why Wimbledon Loss Feels More Frustrating Than Canadian Open Defeat
Repeatedly losing in the semifinals or finals of major tournaments leaves any athlete in despair. But when reporters asked Gauff if these recent losses frustrated her, she explained that she views them through a different lens.
“I don’t think it’s frustrating. I mean, obviously, I feel like when you look at it in hindsight, more so Wimbledon, that it could feel frustrating. But my look at it more is gratitude and knowing it was maybe a different decision away from the final,” said the two-time Grand Slam winner in her presser at Cincinnati.
The 22-year-old said the setback in Toronto was not as frustrating as Wimbledon because of how the last two sets played out. Gauff also sees the deep runs as signs of improvement. She believes her tactics are working, especially against players she has struggled with in the past, and is learning to trust her game.
I do feel like I’m getting improvement. And especially against players that I usually struggle against badly, so I think I’m making the right decisions as far as the adjustments I’m making to my game and just trusting that I will play.”
A series of tough losses in the final stages of elite tournaments has marked Gauff’s 2026 season. In February, Gauff fell in the semifinals of the Dubai Championships, losing a three-hour marathon to Elina Svitolina 6-4, 6-7, 6-4. In March, she reached the final of the Miami Open but was ultimately defeated by Aryna Sabalenka 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, who won the Sunshine Double.
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Svitolina played spoiler for her once again in May, besting Gauff in the final of the Italian Open with a 6-4, 6-7, 6-2 victory. The American also reached the quarterfinals at the Australian Open and in Stuttgart.
However, Cincinnati could give Gauff another chance to build momentum before the US Open, especially at the tournament where she won her first WTA 1000 title in 2023 at just 19 years old. The fourth seed will begin her campaign against Liudmila Samsonova in the second round tomorrow.
