Coco Gauff, the American tennis sensation, made a triumphant return to the U.S. soil at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California. After a remarkable “Summer of Coco” that culminated in her maiden Grand Slam title at the US Open, Gauff faced a tough challenge in her opening match against Clara Burel.
Despite a shaky start, Gauff displayed her trademark resilience and determination, rallying from a set down and a 2-5 deficit in the final set to secure a hard-fought 2-6, 6-3, 7-6(4) victory.
Gauff’s initial struggles were evident as she lost six consecutive games, her serve faltering and her returns lacking precision. However, she gradually found her rhythm, embracing the “Winning Ugly” mentality instilled by her coach, Brad Gilbert.
In the second set, Gauff broke back from 2-1 down and eventually leveled the match. The third set was a rollercoaster of emotions, with Burel breaking Gauff twice to take a 3-0 lead. But Gauff refused to give up, breaking back at love and saving three break points to level at 3-3.
As the match reached its climax, Burel faltered under pressure, double faulting to hand Gauff the break. The American then held her nerve in the tiebreak, securing the victory with a defensive flair that forced Burel into a wide crosscourt backhand.
Gauff’s victory marked her 50th win at the WTA 1000 level and extended her winning streak on home soil to 17 matches. She credited her mental toughness and ability to perform under pressure for her success.
“It wasn’t my best tennis, but it’s not about how you show up on your good days, it’s how you show up on your bad ones,” Gauff said. “I’m happy with how I showed up today.”
