Coco Gauff admitted her view of the WTA Finals has now changed after competing at the event. The American played at the season-ending tournament for the second straight year and achieved her best result by reaching the semi-finals.
The end-of-year championships are regarded by the sport as the biggest event of the year after the four Grand Slams. While in Cancun for the 2023 WTA Finals, Gauff said she now values the event more than she did previously but still wants to win the majors more than any other trophies in the sport.
“It would be cool to win it. To be honest, as a kid, I always dreamt of winning Grand Slams,” the teenager said via Cancun Press. “I think as I’ve grown as a pro on tour, I learned more about what the WTA Finals is about. I’d definitely say that would be a goal of mine now, after competing in it for 2 years & realizing this is the best of the best.
“I do think I can improve. It would definitely be a dream. If I had to choose, I’d rather win another Slam. But it’s definitely a dream. I think this tournament is one of the most challenging. Not only because it’s the Top 8, but because it’s the end of the season.”
Gauff began this year’s WTA Finals with a comprehensive victory over Ons Jabeur, before suffering her ninth loss to Iga Swiatek in her second group game. Needing a win to guarantee her spot in the last four against Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrosova, Gauff recovered from a set down to beat the Czech star 5-7, 7-6(4), 6-3, despite serving 17 double faults.
Like the rest of the players, Gauff’s tournament was interrupted by persistent rain – and the high winds significantly impacted her serve. Up against her doubles partner and compatriot Jessica Pegula in the last four, Gauff managed to win just three games as she exited the WTA Finals.
It concluded a special season for Gauff in which she won the US Open, the first major of her career. She ended 2023 with a career-high ranking of number three and also captured the Cincinnati, Washington and Auckland titles.
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After winning 24 of her last 28 matches of the season, Gauff took to Instagram to summarize her campaign and thank her fans for their support. “2023 season is officially over. Hard to sum up this season in a few words,” the tennis star wrote. “I saw my darkest and brightest days of my life this year.
“I probably grew enough for 10 lifetimes between January & now. I usually don’t say this but I am learning to be nicer to myself haha (I get questioned all the time by family, press, and y’all for not saying this) but yes I AM proud of myself. I am proud of the resilience showed. They really tried to count me out but it is all in God’s plan and His timing.”
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