“You just feel like… you’re going to win” – Coco Gauff in the zone as superb winning streak continues

The American has compiled a 16-match winning streak, which included her maiden Grand Slam title at the US Open last month. World No 2 Iga Swiatek lies in wait in the semi-finals of the China Open

Gauff Cincinnati final Icon SMI Panoramic

Jamie Malachy

October 6, 2023

China Open •Quarter-final • completed

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M. SakkarivsC. Gauff

A little over three months ago, Coco Gauff was facing one of the lowest points of her fledgling career.

Having held so much promise ever since bursting onto the scene with an astonishing fourth-round run at Wimbledon as a 15-year-old in 2019, the young American found herself crashing out in the first round at SW19 to compatriot Sofia Kenin four years later.

What appeared to some sceptics as the final proof that Coco Gauff was yet another overhyped young talent on the WTA circuit, served as quite the opposite for the now-19-year-old.

Gauff used that loss – and all the criticism that came with it – to galvanise herself into producing the most extraordinarily successful run of her career.

It has nothing to do with how Maria played. I think honestly when I woke up today, I just felt good.
Coco Gauff in the zone as she extends her unbeaten run to 16 matches

23 matches later, and Gauff has lost only once – a run that has seen her win her first ever 500-level title, 1000-level title and then a maiden Grand Slam title before navigating her way to the semi-finals of the China Open this week.

Her most recent scalp was the in-form Maria Sakkari, whom Gauff swept aside in dominant fashion in their quarter-final encounter in Beijing.

Coco Gauff dispatches Maria Sakkari to reach the semi-finals in Beijing

Into the last four of an event for the third tournament in a row, the American is enjoying a certain aura of invincibility.

“When I stepped on the court, some days you just feel like no matter what’s going to happen, you’re going to win,” Gauff said in her post-match press conference.

“It’s nothing to do with the opponent. It’s just like how you’re feeling. That’s how I felt when I stepped on court today.”

It is an ominous sign to the rest of the field that Gauff believes her game is at a place whereby an opponent’s efforts are rendered obsolete.

“Yeah, there was like shots that I was making, not that I was surprised I was making them, but probably as consistently,” Gauff added.

“I think today was just one of those days where I felt comfortable. It has nothing to do with how Maria played. I think honestly when I woke up today, I just felt good.

“It’s a rare feeling as an athlete. I had this feeling last year in San Diego when I played Kalena – I think. It felt similar to that today.

“San Jose, not San Diego.”

Tantalising test against Iga Swiatek up next for Gauff

During the 16-match winning streak that Gauff has compiled over the past two months, one of the most significant results was that of her semi-final win over Iga Swiatek in Cincinnati.

Having gone seven matches without winning a set against the Pole, Gauff put on a superb exhibit of mental and physical resilience to earn her first scalp over the then-World No 1.

On the 17th match of her unbeaten run, Coco Gauff will meet Iga Swiatek once again for the pair’s eighth meeting in an ever-burgeoning WTA rivalry.

This feels like their most significant encounter yet.

A match-up that used to be one of the most predictable in tennis is now nearly impossible to call.

Swiatek will be eager to rectify the loss she suffered in Cincinnati back in August, while also looking to take the last chance of the season to win a Masters 1000 title in 2023.

A second consecutive win over the four-time Grand Slam champion for Coco Gauff, meanwhile, would catapult the US Open champion’s already exceptional run into even greater heights.