Entering the Indian Wells Open ranked No. 3, Coco Gauff was unexpectedly knocked out by opponent Belinda Bencic in the fourth round. Despite the early exit, Gauff is already looking ahead and continuing to find her rhythm for the rest of the season. She showcased a great number of well-played serves and solid defensive plays but fell just a bit short in crucial moments when points were needed the most. In her post-match press conference, Gauff remained optimistic, offering words of encouragement for her future.
How Gauff Turns Losses Into Motivation
As women athletes, it’s inevitable to experience losses along the way, but it’s how we grow and overcome them that truly matters. “Obviously, I wanted to do better, want to have better results, but it’s not something I can crush myself on,” Gauff said when asked about any concerns she had about her current slump. “I'm trying to work on things in practice, and unfortunately right now it’s not translating how I'd like to.”
Like Gauff, we all experience ups and downs in our journey, and no winning or losing streak lasts forever. The losses have not seemed to overly faze Gauff, as she knows this is just the beginning of the season, with many more opportunities to come. “Overall, I feel like, I mean, it’s not as bad as it seems,” she says. “Here, I mean, I lost 6-4 in the third in the fourth round against a tough opponent who's coming off a 500 win,” she added.
Gauff doesn’t doubt her abilities, knowing she’s competing against the best tennis players in the world, and understands she won’t win every match. She shows athletes of all ages and skill levels that even the most talented and mentally tough competitors will experience ups and downs in performance through the season. But the key is to keep going forward, working hard to improve.
“Obviously, I wanted to do better, want to have better results, but it’s not something I can crush myself on.”
Gauff’s Goal to Make Tennis More Accessible
On Gauff's 21st birthday, she released a new shoe model in collaboration with New Balance, The Coco Delray. The shoe is a low-top model with tennis and basketball influences, offering a versatile design suitable for both casual play and everyday wear. Gauff is the only player on the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) Tour with her own signature tennis shoe. The collaboration is noteworthy because it highlights the ongoing issue of accessibility in tennis, providing a stylish and affordable option for all athletes.
“I’m incredibly proud to launch the new Coco Delray because it’s more than just a tennis shoe - it represents an opportunity to broaden access to those interested in playing the game and will have a positive cultural impact for generations to come,” Gauff says. The Coco Delray is “engineered for any match on any surface, from your local park to competitive play.” She designed the shoe to pay homage to her Florida hometown, Delray Beach, and hopes to continue to promote inclusivity within the sport.
Tennis continues to face ongoing questions about diversity, representation, and access, and Gauff is continuing to advocate for the sport to be more inclusive. Gauff is implementing steps in the right direction, and as women, we have the power to strive for better opportunities for ourselves and the future generations of women athletes.
