Coco Gauff: How putting her life ‘into perspective’ helped tennis star handle the pressure during US Open run

CNN
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Coco Goff was ruthless and fully effective in his US Open Quarterfinal against Jelna Ostapenko, leaving just two games in a match that could actually bother young American.

Ostapenco, although nervous with inconsistencies, was expected to raise serious questions for the title credentials of Goff after an impressive run in New York, but easily separated from 6–0 6–2 in less than an hour.

Goff has once again taken his game to a level this season-especially during the second half of the year-like the 19-year-old has continued his climb to tennis stardom.

They were at a complete performance against reforms Ostapenko, Goff unable to find Latvian with his own ground stroke with his own ground stroke and, significantly, with a level of accuracy and stability.

Improvement in Gauf’s physical characteristics has been plain to see flushing meadows for all, but World No. 6 gave an insight into the process of building mental endurance required to score deep runs in the Grand Slam.

“I think it’s unique to every person,” he told reporters. “It comes with tests and error. What I have learned about myself is that in these moments, I should not put so much pressure on these matches because when you are playing these tournaments, the pressure is always there.

“They are very intense and you always want to win. I have just learned how better I have reached this level. You have some people who already do this when they come on tour and some who need to learn.

“I think it is just part of life and just a part of learning. So sometimes someone has a great result, such as when they come out of the gates, and then it is difficult to return it because you were never in this position before.

“The more I have come to this situation, the more I am able to learn to handle it.”

This pressure will be further intensified when Goff Karolin Muchova will be faced in the US Open semi -finals on Thursday.

While playing at the Grand Slam of the house, the spotlight is never brighter on a player, but Goff has handled the opportunity with a maturity that believes in his years, once it is not visible to suffer under the weight of the expectation.

However, the teenager admits that it was not always so and was able to handle the pressure as he was now a process that took time.

Among the most helping things in that process, Goff said, when she began to get overwhelmed, she was putting her life “in perspective”.

“First, I thought negative things,” he remembered. “Why is there so much pressure?” Why is it so difficult? Bla bla bla blush. I realize that this is pressure but it is not. I mean, there are people who are struggling to feed their families, people who do not know where their next food is coming from, people who have to pay their bills.

“This is the real pressure, it’s real difficulty, it’s real life. I am in a very privileged position, I am being paid to what I like and what I like to support what I like. This is something that I do not take.

“So really I put my life in perspective and especially in New York, I think you see that perspective too much, especially where I live, compared to,” Goff said. “I have a lucky life and so I should enjoy it.

“I know that there are millions of people who probably want to live in the situation that I am now, so instead of saying, ‘Why this, why so?” I just should be, like, ‘Why don’t I? Why am I not enjoying it? ‘ Me.”

Goff said that she is now playing “too much fun” tennis, and this bliss is clear when she takes to court. “I just said to myself: ‘Man, I should enjoy it,” he explained.

This bliss spreads to his interviews and press conferences, also, where Gauf is sociable, authentic and funny, signs that are rapidly inspired by not only American fans, but people around the world.

It helps, Goff said, “Don’t think about the results” and focus only on having fun instead.

“I am living a lucky life and I am very blessed. I don’t want to take it, “he said. “So that’s why, I think it is just putting my life in perspective and feeling how grateful and blessed I am.”