As early as 2019, the writing was on the wall for fans of the WTA: the US’s Coco Gauff was destined to become a star. After defeating Venus Williams at Wimbledon, all eyes were on the young player. This year has been the tilting point for any tennis fans who doubted the Floridian would become the US’s next tennis legend.
Her performance in the 2022 Canadian Open grabbed international headlines. At age 18, she rocketed to the top of the World Tennis Rankings, nabbing No. 11 for singles and No. 1 for doubles this July. Along with tennis analysts, sportsbooks have taken notice, shifting their odds for upcoming WTA events. While in the past, Gauff may have been the subject of a free bet from the offers available at OddsChecker, her odds have shortened across the board.
Gauff’s popularity as a player comes down to her performance on the court and, following in the footsteps of the Williams sisters, her attitude off the court. In addition to an aggressive strike and her ability to mix shots at the right moment, Gauff is known for her tough mental approach to the game. This is what differentiates top tennis players from the rest of the bunch—and for Gauff, it’s only the start.
2022 Coming Up All Coco
2022 has been a breakthrough year for Coco Gauff. What started with an early loss to Wang Qiang at the Australian Open led to a quarterfinals appearance at the Qatar Open. Though Gauff wants to succeed as an individual competitor, she has performed at her peak alongside Jessica Pegula, nabbing the Qatar Open title in doubles.
At the 2022 French Open, Gauff reached her first Grand Slam final, which she lost to Iga ?wiatek. Once again, she and Pegula were able to leverage their skills together. Though the pair lost in the finals and Gauff went on to a rough Wimbledon 2022 appearance, it looked like she had officially found her rhythm for the wider WTA season.
At the Silicon Valley Classic, Gauff defeated Naomi Osaka, then went on to fall in the quarterfinals after trouble serving. Shortly after, she reached quarter-finals at the Canadian open—then went on to nab another first-place finish with Pegula in doubles. Both performances helped propel her to her top World Ranking positions.
The US Open
Heading into the 2022 US Open, Gauff spoke with reporters about wanting to represent the US in New York. Not only was she hoping to face off against Serena Williams, but the budding tennis star was also looking to take home a meaningful win on home turf. The US Open will coincide with Gauff’s ESPN Cover Story feature, which will survey her outlook on life and tennis alike.
