‘You’ve won in life’ – Coco Gauff reveals TikTok-inspired philosophy is gearing her on in US Open defence
Coco Gauff breezed into the US Open second round - with the defending champion insisting it's all thanks to TikTok.
The 20-year-old has struggled for form of late, having been knocked out at Wimbledon and the Paris Olympics in the fourth and third round respectively.
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Gauff, who became the first American teenager since Serena Williams to triumph at Flushing Meadows, also crashed out early in Cincinnati and Toronto.
But she showed her class in her first round win over Varvara Gracheva at the Arthur Ashe Stadium - wrapping up a 6-2, 6-0 win in just 66 minutes.
And the world number three revealed that a message on TikTok from a fan has changed her perspective, which has taken the pressure of herself, and has instead given her the motivation and confidence she needs.
The Georgia native stated: "Somebody commented on my TikTok and they were like, ‘You’ve won in life, literally and figuratively, and there’s no point in piling pressure on yourself on a victory lap.’
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“I’m just treating this tournament like that. If you defend something, that means you won something.
"If you did it, that means you can do it again.
"So whether I do it again this year or not, I am going to do it again, whether it’s 2024 or not - I will do it again.”
Gauff continued: “If I played this last week I feel like it would be really difficult, but my perspective has changed a lot over seven days.
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“I was just trying to enjoy the match. I enjoyed it today and obviously it was straightforward.
"But even if it was tighter these are the moments you live for.
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"I am just happy to be back on this court and playing like I did.
“I know the last few weeks have been a little bit tough and I think this has been the best tennis I have played in a while.
Prior to Gauff's blip in form, she had reached the semi-finals at both the Australian and French Open.
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She even scooped a maiden Grand Slam doubles titles at Roland Garros in June alongside partner Katerina Siniakova.
And you wouldn't put it past the youngster of reaching the last-four in New York as she looks to become the first woman to defend her title since Williams in 2014.
Gauff will play German veteran Tatjana Maria in the second round on Wednesday.
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