Coco Gauff said her victory at the Wuhan Open on Sunday had boosted her confidence after a disappointing run of results, as the US tennis star prepares to defend her title at the season-ending WTA Finals in Riyadh in November.
Gauff defeated compatriot Jessica Pegula 6-4 7-5 in the final of the WTA 1000 event to clinch her 11th career WTA singles title.
It was the 21-year-old’s first title since winning the French Open in June, and came after a series of uninspired performances, which included a fourth-round defeat by Naomi Osaka in the US Open.
“This definitely gives me a lot more confidence going into the WTA finals after the way the mid-part of the season went for me, especially in New York,” Gauff said.
“It gives me a lot of confidence to try to defend that title.
“Obviously, winning it last year, I know how tough it is to do, so I’m going to take it match by match and hopefully I can end up with the trophy.”
Gauff, who did not drop a set in Wuhan, has won all nine of her finals on hard courts.
“I definitely think it’s the surface I’m most true to,” the two-time Grand Slam winner said.
“Growing up, I liked the sureness of bounces and the sureness of knowing when I’m going to stop and when I’m going to go.
“A lot of people think [my best surface] is clay.
“I don’t know my favourite surface. I feel that it’s still going to be hard court for me.”
On Sunday, Gauff became the first woman in a decade to win nine consecutive hard court finals, a feat last achieved by Serena Williams, who won 12 in 2013-15.
“I didn’t know that was a stat, so I’ll try not to think about it if I’m in another hard court final to keep that record going.”
Reuters
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