Coco Gauff’s run at the 2024 WTA Finals came to an end on Thursday afternoon with a 6-4, 6-2 loss to Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova in her third and final Round Robin match. While the defeat marked a disappointing end to the American’s campaign, Gauff was quick to address the underlying factors that led to the loss, as well as the way she deals with external pressures and expectations.
In what was a crucial match for both players, Gauff struggled to capitalize on key moments, particularly during break point opportunities. She only managed to convert one out of 12 break point chances, while Krejcikova, on the other hand, made the most of her opportunities, converting three out of four break points. It was a match that highlighted some of Gauff’s weaknesses in terms of execution, but it also provided her with an opportunity to reflect on her growth, both as a player and as a person.
Following the match, Gauff took to the media center and was candid about how she’s learned to channel the pressure and expectations that come with being one of the brightest young stars in tennis. She admitted that in the past, external criticism used to weigh heavily on her, but now she has flipped the narrative, using negativity and high expectations as fuel to drive her forward.
**From Pressure to Motivation**
Gauff’s meteoric rise to prominence has come with its fair share of challenges. At just 20 years old, the American has been in the spotlight for much of her young career, ever since she burst onto the scene with a fourth-round run at Wimbledon in 2019. Since then, she has consistently delivered strong performances, including winning her first Grand Slam singles title at the 2023 US Open. However, with success comes heightened expectations, and Gauff has learned to deal with the pressure in her own way.
Reflecting on her mindset shift, Gauff explained how criticism and the weight of high expectations, which once might have burdened her, are now a source of motivation. “I think it’s just training your mind to think these things,” Gauff told reporters. “Whether it’s how the person intended it, probably not. But if you trick your mind, it’s crazy how your daily mindset and your thoughts and your decisions can change. I use it as motivation now. Before, I used to think of it as pressure and I thought, ‘You know, the expectations are always going to be there for me.’”
Gauff’s perspective has evolved significantly over the past few years. While she acknowledges the weight of the expectations placed on her, she now sees them as an affirmation of her potential. “I turned it into something positive. People expect so much from you, so that means they see something in you. If they see potential in you, then you should see potential in yourself,” she explained. This mindset shift has been a key factor in her recent success, as she is no longer weighed down by the pressure of constantly needing to prove herself.
However, Gauff admitted that even with this new outlook, it’s not always easy to stay grounded when the results don’t go her way. “I don’t win all the time, and that’s okay. But especially today, I got a lot of comments about how I lost badly, and that stings,” she said, referencing her loss to Krejcikova. Despite the negative feedback, Gauff expressed her determination to take it all in stride and use it as motivation to prove her doubters wrong in the future.
**The Role of ‘Pettiness’ in Gauff’s Motivation**
When asked how she channels criticism, Gauff didn’t shy away from revealing a more playful side of her mindset: she uses “pettiness” as a motivational tool. The term may seem lighthearted, but for Gauff, it represents a deeper psychological strategy. “I think I honestly just like the idea of proving people wrong. I like letting my racket do the talking,” she admitted. “I think for me, pettiness is really the answer. I think I just like being, like, saying I’m right and stuff, and obviously, it doesn’t always work.”
While Gauff is known for her maturity on and off the court, she also recognized the importance of using a bit of defiance to fuel her motivation. She explained that using “pettiness” as a way to channel frustration and criticism gives her the edge she needs to perform better. “Sometimes, it’s just about finding that little bit of something inside you to keep going when things get tough, and for me, that’s a bit of it,” she added with a smile.
It’s clear that Gauff’s approach to her mental game has come a long way since she first emerged as a teenage sensation. Early on, she seemed to internalize the weight of expectations and the barrage of outside opinions, which sometimes led to moments of frustration on court. But now, as she matures both as a player and as a person, Gauff has developed the mental fortitude to navigate those pressures with confidence, transforming them into fuel rather than burdens.
**Lessons Learned From a Challenging Match**
Despite the loss to Krejcikova, Gauff was quick to analyze the match and highlight areas of improvement. One of the most glaring issues was her inability to convert break points. Throughout the match, Gauff had a whopping 12 opportunities to break Krejcikova’s serve, but she could only convert one, a statistic that ultimately cost her the match.
Gauff acknowledged that this was a major factor in her defeat, but she also took it as a valuable learning experience. “I think today was just one of those matches where I didn’t take advantage of my chances. When you’re playing someone as good as Barbora, you have to capitalize on those moments,” she said. “It’s something I’ll definitely work on, but these are the kinds of matches that help you grow. You can’t win all the time, but if you learn from the losses, they make you stronger.”
Gauff’s ability to reflect on her performance objectively shows the mental maturity she has developed over the years. Rather than focusing on the disappointment of the result, she uses it as a springboard for self-improvement. This attitude has served her well throughout her career and will undoubtedly continue to be a key factor in her rise to the upper echelons of the sport.
**Looking Ahead**
With the WTA Finals now behind her, Gauff will turn her attention to the off-season and preparing for the 2025 season, which will begin in January. While her loss to Krejcikova marked a bittersweet end to an otherwise strong season, Gauff’s growth as both a player and a person has been evident. She is no longer defined by external pressure or criticism but instead embraces these challenges as opportunities for growth.
As one of the most promising young talents in women’s tennis, Gauff’s mindset shift is a crucial step in her ongoing development. Whether it’s channeling “pettiness” or turning pressure into motivation, Gauff has shown that she has the mental toughness to go far in the sport. And while she may not have claimed the title at the WTA Finals this year, it’s clear that Gauff is ready to take on whatever challenges lie ahead with a renewed sense of purpose and determination.