WTA no. 7 Coco Gauff won the Mubadala Citi Open 62 63 vs world no. 9 Maria Sakkari. The 19 year old American had been 1-4 career head to head vs the muscular Greek woman.
Gauff executed 25 aces in the week which saw her defeat Belinda Bencic, Hailey Baptiste, Liudmila Samsonova on her way to the final.
This was Gauff’s first tournament with her new team of coach Pere Riba and new addition Brad Gilbert. It appeared that her father/coach was not part of the team this week.
“It’s our first tournament as a full team (Riba and Gilbert),” Gauff said after winning her second title of 2023. “I’m glad that we were able to make this result. I know those who were with me at Wimbledon it was really tough a couple of weeks ago. We were all feeling it. I’m glad I was able to bounce back.”
“The biggest takeaway, I think that it’s pretty clear what everybody’s going to play, how everybody’s going to play me on the scouting report,” Gauff said of WTA players trying to exploit her sometimes inconsisten forehand. “I think that consistently this week I have beaten that scouting report, and I think that’s why the players tend to get a little more frustrated.”
Dan Evans, the 33 year old British player, also stunned the Washington DC crowds this week as he won the biggest title of his career, beating Tallon Griekspoor in the rain-delayed final 75 63. Previously 1-2 in his ATP finals before yesterday, Evans will be ranked 21 in the ATP rankings, his highest ever.
Evans, using a Wilson Blade racquet, clinched the title with a service winner to Griekspoor’s backhand in the ad court that fell into the net.
Evans triumph was a big surprise as he had lost first round of his previous six ATP tournaments. But in Washington he caught lightning in a bottle and won ten sets in a row after losing the first set of his first rounder vs. Gregoire Barrere. On the way to the final Evans beat no. 2 seed, Frances Tiafoe, 5 seed Grigor Dimitrov, and Alexander Shevchenko.
“I wasn’t playing very well and I wasn’t happy with my game. To do the work I’ve done and to stick with it and come through is [amazing],” said Evans. “The last game sort of summed up my week. I got out of trouble and it was an amazing week. I really appreciate all the support.”
“Thanks to everyone who stayed. I couldn’t have really thought about this in the beginning of the week. Amazing. It means the world to me, it genuinely does. Thank you.”
Evans is the first British champion in Washington since Tim Henman in 2003 and the oldest since Jimmy Connors in 1988.
Coco Gauff · Dan Evans · Mubadala Citi Open
catherine · August 7, 2023 at 2:49 pm
Why does Coco end up sounding so arrogant ? Her weakish forehand has never been a secret. Other players are really going to get motivated to beat her.
Bencic is nowhere near the player she was a few years ago. Is Tursunov still coaching her ? I think he’s better at talking than the practical stuff. He says some very perceptive and sensible things but his players tend to fall short.
Congrats to Dan. He really deserved this and his speech was heartfelt and modest.
Scoop Malinowski · August 7, 2023 at 3:16 pm
Catherine, Tursunov is long gone, as is Thomas Johansson with Cirstea. Coco sounds like she could be on her ay to keep winning some more big titles this summer. Yes to see Evans win and the raw pure joy he showed was very nice. Coco’s title looked a little phony in comparison.
Scoop Malinowski · August 7, 2023 at 3:23 pm
Holger Rune says he’d rather win a Grand Slam than be #1 in the world: “I’m more motivated to win tournaments. I would rather win a Grand Slam & then be sixth in the world, than not win a Grand Slam and then be #1 in the world. So for me it’s about tournaments.”
catherine · August 10, 2023 at 11:53 am
ActuallyI don’t think Coco means to sound arrogant. She’s been saying similar things about herself since she was around ten years old, probably long before she knew what the word meant.
I hope she does manage to win a few tournaments. The WTA needs a decent rivalry. The lineup’s beginning to look a little thin. It’s Swiatek + ?
Departure of Barty and Osaka and absence of Raducanu has not improved the level or consistency of play over the last couple of years.
Scoop Malinowski · August 10, 2023 at 1:11 pm
And Rybakina and Sabalenka are fine players but they don’t move the needle. Raducanu moves the needle but she can’t win anymore. Osaka no longer intrigues as much as she disgusts with her militant political activism. Tennis fans have had enough of BLM and their trophy goon George Floyd. Everything is set up for Coco to take over and collect a ton of endorsement million$. Brad Gilbert may be the key to Coco’s rise to the top.
catherine · August 11, 2023 at 2:00 am
Honestly Scoop, why don’t you give Naomu a break and see how she turns out when she comes back ? She’ll have a baby and lots of other concerns.
You don’t like activists and that’s fine for you. We all know how you feel about Naomi off the court. Myself, I’m only interested in how she hits the ball.
My point was a general one. Vondrousova is a good player but she was an accidental Wimbledon winner. I don’t think Wimbledon brings out the best in women. Can’t recall many classic matches.
catherine · August 11, 2023 at 6:30 am
Maybe I’m a little paranoid but I think I’d bear in mind that other players (and their coaches) can read as well:
https://www.wtatennis.com/news/3623241/revamping-a-star-how-brad-gilbert-is-aiming-to-shape-gauff-s-game
Scoop Malinowski · August 11, 2023 at 7:39 am
Catherine, I think Osaka was a better version than Serena, more athletic, better mover, better athlete. But her head is lost now after the militant political activism ruined her love affair with tennis fans all over the globe who no longer like her. Without that love Osaka is lost. She played her best when everybody loved her. And everybody did love her including me. I hope she can get it back and get her tennis career back on track. There’s got to be a way to do it.
Scoop Malinowski · August 11, 2023 at 7:40 am
Catherine, I read this article and nothing was really said. Finding it curious Coco is now suddenly a winning machine on US soil, it’s like players are rolling over for Cocomania or something.
catherine · August 12, 2023 at 2:11 am
Well, Coco was a winning machine on Canadian soil in Montreal until Pegula pulled the rug out from under her and the crowd was denied Swiatek/Gauff.
Sabalenka on a slide. Several close 3 setters in Montreal. Good for the game.
Scoop Malinowski · August 12, 2023 at 7:37 am
Catherine, there are a lot of good things in the wta but the top priority should be ending Svitolina’s war drama BS, announce a fine for all Ukrainians for not shaking hands with innocent Russians $50,000. If the Ukrainians don’t want to play the Russians, let them go home. Wta needs to end this divisive militant political activism which pro tennis should not sponsor in any way. Rybakina’s power game and class act demeanor is my favorite element in the WTA right now.