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WIMBLEDON WOMEN’S SINGLES CROWN IS ANYONE’S TO WIN…COCO GAUFF
World No 2 Coco Gauff believes that the women’s draw for Wimbledon is wide open and there isn’t really a favourite just yet.
Nominally Aryna Sabalenka is the favourite as the woman the bookmakers favour to win the title but she hasn’t played since a retirement in her second match of the grass swing.
World No 1 Iga Swiatek has a poor record on grass and has opted not to play any WTA Tour events on grass ahead of Wimbledon.
The 2022 champion Elena Rybakina has also had a grass season hampered by injury.
Gauff’s compatriot Jessica Pegula has won a title on grass but in she has failed to progress beyond the last eight at a Grand Slam having lost six singles quarter-finals at Majors.
Defending champion and World No 6 Marketa Vondrousova hasn’t really shown the form that saw her surge to the title in 2023 since that run.
Seven different women have been crowned Wimbledon singles champion over the past seven years which Gauff believes is a credit to the quality on the WTA Tour.
“I think for me it just shows there’s a lot of talent on the women’s tour and it’s anybody’s game,” Gauff said.
“It gives you confidence obviously when you see that the field isn’t stacked.
She added: “I guess stacked in the way where there’s one player dominating or three players dominating. I think everybody has an equal shot and it’s just about who can perform better that week.”
Second seed Gauff doesn’t feel rankings mean much.
“The ranking is just a number. I think maybe if I was No.1, I might feel different,” she said. “(World No.) 2, 3, 4, 5, anything for me is all interchangeable if you’re not No.1. I haven’t taken too much attention to it.”
BOUNCING BACK
Gauff lost to fellow American Sofia Kenin in the first round of the 2023 Championships, which caused her to reflect deeply for a few weeks.
“That was a tough moment for me. I think the first two, three weeks after that, I was really in a dark place. It was tough for me to realise I have so much time. When that happens you just feel the weight of everything on you,” she said.
“But I think I’ve just grown a lot.
“I’m glad I used that moment to just strive to get better.
“I still know I’m nowhere near where I can be.
“I think that experience taught me that a bad moment doesn’t last forever. That part of the season was tough, then the next part of the season was the best I’ve ever had.”
Gauff faces world No.52 compatriot Caroline Dolehide in her first match at Wimbledon on Monday 1 July.
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WIMBLEDON WOMEN’S SINGLES CROWN IS ANYONE’S TO WIN…COCO GAUFF
“If my former self from a year ago could see me now, they’d be astounded. I’ve emerged from that dark place stronger than ever, and these past months have been nothing short of extraordinary, proving that tough times eventually pass.”
