Coco Gauff overcame a tough start to beat Spain’s Cristina Bucșa 6-3, 6-4 in the third round and reach the second week of the US Open for the fifth straight year. She will next face fellow American Iva Jovic as she continues her strong run in New York. As Gauff looks to win her third Grand Slam title at her home major, former pro Martina Navratilova has weighed in on her.
Martina Navratilova Makes Strong Coco Gauff Claim After American Reaches US Open Fourth Round
“Coco Gauff, I think she plays better under pressure than the rest of them,” Navratilova boldly observed during a segment on Sky Sports. “I think it’s a little more up and down [for other players], whereas Coco rises for it. And here in New York, she has consistently played well, and the crowd’s going to go nuts for her as well. So that’s like the known unknown.”
Gauff has had a mixed season so far, reaching the finals in Miami and Rome and suffering semifinal exits in Dubai, Wimbledon, and Toronto. However, she did bounce back to win the Cincinnati Open.
And Navratilova believes Gauff’s experience has helped her become more comfortable in high-pressure situations. The 22-year-old has been in the spotlight since she was a teenager and famously became the first American teenager to win the US Open since Serena Williams in 1999 when she claimed the title three years ago. Her ability to handle that pressure has continued to grow.
“She’s well beyond. I mean, she’s been through so much,” Navratilova continued, praising Gauff’s mental strength. “She’s such a veteran at such a young age, but she’s kind of used to that stuff happening, and she just gets on with it.”
Gauff’s campaigns at the previous two US Opens ended in the fourth round, with the American admitting that the pressure of playing at home had affected her. This year, however, her mindset has changed.
“I feel like I’m used to getting to the second week now. I woke up today, and I was like ‘oh we’re already in round three,'” Gauff admitted after the third-round win. “There’s expectations, being American, and I want to do well in front of the fans. Last year, I put so much pressure on myself. I’m enjoying the experience out here.”
With that relaxed mindset, Gauff’s next challenge is a fourth-round clash with 14th seed Jovic. The 18-year-old American earned her place in the last 16 after a three-hour, three-minute battle against Alexandra Eala, winning 7-5, 3-6, 7-5.
Their match is scheduled on Monday at 7 p.m. ET.
