Yet Another Cup of Coco – Gauff Continues to Amaze
Bill Simons
New York
I gave myself a code violation. The media is supposed to be neutral: don’t ask for any autographs, and, goodness, no cheering! But last night, lucky moi, I found myself in the US Open President’s Suite. Sitting by USTA Executive Director Gordon Smith, I watched Coco Gauff battle Timea Babos. It was tight. The outcome was uncertain. And when, at last, the kid prevailed, the supposedly refined, don’t-you-dare-do-anything-wrong suite erupted. So did Smith – and so did I.
A judgmental voice in my brain scolded, “Code violation! point penalty, Mr. Simons! No cheering by the media!” Oh, well, I said to myself, I’d just joined the crowd. Everyone has been wowed by Gauff, the 15-year-old who dazzled Wimbledon, won the D.C. doubles with her elder partner, 17-year-old Caty McNally, and who is now into the third round in singles and the second round of doubles.
On court, kid Coco stays calm – she’s panic-free. Never mind if she’s battling an American legend they call Venus, an eager Russian named Potapova or Timea Babos, a Hungarian who has long been in that sporting goulash known as the WTA Tour. Gauff has a laser focus. She has a penchant for coming from behind, she wriggles out of dicey situations. Almost all of her matches are nail-biters. When it comes to saving match points, it’s no big deal. McNally said, “When it gets close, you can really tell that Coco digs in deep. It’s unbelievable. She dives for the balls, she leaves it all out there.”
She has an easy power on her first serve, her groundies are solid, her angled backhand creates issues. Even her staccato fist pumps impress. Most of all, like so many stratospheric stars, she has a fighting spirit and the greatest talent you can have in sports – she knows how to win.
Sports can punch logic in the gut. For a 15-year-old to win a round or two in Wimbledon’s qualifying tourney is a triumph. But Coco breezed through the qualifying and won six matches at the All-England Club. Now she’s backed it up with another astounding Slam showing.
Clearly Coco relishes the game’s biggest stages. But today, what astounded me was her presence. In a tiny, almost underground interview room deep in the bowels of Ashe Stadium, I was privileged to sit just six feet from the phenom. Before me were her powerful rounded shoulders. I saw a certain precocious and impressive character in her face. There’s an almost shocking depth there. Can we suggest she’s an old soul in a young body? Unlike many young athletes, she has something to say. And unlike the appealing but shy Naomi Osaka, she’s no introvert. She has a delightful spontaneity and an unpredictable sense of humor. With a user-friendly wit she gently put her dad’s pride in place and joked with a smile about just how fabulous her volleys are.
“She has both feet on the ground,” noted the astute observer Richard Evans. “Her parents seem sensible, which is incredible. She’s going to win things and be a huge asset for the sport. Well, that’s as long as the money men don’t step in. That would be ruinous. But Coco has Tony [Roger Federer’s sage agent, Tony Godsick] handling things, so that’s good.”
What’s also good is that for a second time this summer, a Slam is going loco for Coco. Sure, today was a GOAT-fest. The US Open day line-up featured a doubleheader with Serena and Roger on Ashe stadium. Still, Coco’s doubles match with McNally over on tiny Court 5 almost stole the show.
Yes, it’s true we love our legends. Billie Jean and Laver are celebrated with fervor. We put our superstars – Roger, Rafa and Serena – on lofty pedestals. But there’s nothing that excites us more than emerging prospects, fresh faces that promise glory. We recall 16-year-old Chrissie baselining her way to the 1971 US Open semi. There was pig-tailed Tracy Austin becoming the youngest to win a US Open title. Jennifer Capriati fanned a firestorm – they called one Florida tournament the Virginia Slims of Capriati. Young Monica Seles gleefully tossed out flowers as she came out on court in Paris. Even the often somber Steffi Graf gushed as a teen, “Life is perfect.” Young Venus and Serena changed everything.
Springtime for phenoms is sweet. The sky is blue, melodies sound, everyone notices. A former First Lady, the game’s great diva and the GOAT all gushed. Young Aussie Alex DeMinaur noted, “She’s on TV 24/7…The whole of America was watching. It’s not easy, especially the first time in her home Grand Slam…[There were] a lot of expectations. She’s been able to hold onto her nerves. It’s pretty insane how much the Americans have gotten behind her…It’s sensational…Even the guys would have tuned in to watch that match.”
“She’s just incredibly talented,” said Serena. “Anyone that’s 15, playing like that, people are going to be drawn to them. That’s pretty awesome.” An excited Federer was watching, too, and was impressed that she backed up her Wimbledon performance and was so focused. “She’s going to have a great future,” noted Roger.
Naomi Osaka added, “She’s super sweet.” What also can be sweet is sports in America. With our size, power, creativity, heritage and love of games, at times American athletes offer stunning surges on assorted sports stages. Of course, Gauff is just one light in a bright new generation of young women, like serving and volleying Caty McNally, Amanda Anisimova, Sonya Kenin (and even the fairly ancient 23-year-old Taylor Townsend).
In the end, in that almost subterranean interview room today, Gauff showed just how grounded she was. She said the Open was “just another tournament.” But the ground is now shaking under tennis. Coco Gauff is hardly just another kid.
[Also Reporting: Douglas Hochmuth]
