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Coco Gauff narrowly avoided an early exit at the Rome tournament, coming back from a match point against her opponent. She ultimately secured victory with a strong performance in the third set.
Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images
Coco Gauff came within a point of crashing out early in Rome on Monday.
Jovic held match point at 5-3, but she couldnât take it. She missed a forehand into the net, handing Gauff a lifeline.
Instead, it was the world No. 3 who pulled away, closing out the match with a strong third set to book her place in round three.
After the match, Courier and Austin highlighted both the positives and areas for growth from Gauffâs performance:
Photo by Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP via Getty Images
âThose are the things you canât see [Cocoâs grit and determination], right?â two-time Australian Open champion Jim Courier said on the Tennis Channel.
âWhen you watch young players come up, you see the technique, but you also look at the results, and sometimes the players with the best technique arenât the ones who have the results.
âAnd you can certainly say that Cocoâs, the technique on the serve and the forehand, are works in progress.
âBut thereâs never been a question about her commitment to the contest and to the battle, and she showed it again on match point.
âIt was her weaker side, her forehand, that held strong. Tracy, you pointed that out. That was super important to give Jovic a chance to flinch.
âSo I just think that Coco is a warrior. She brings it out there every time. I hope she can put some of those technical challenges behind her because then sheâll be able to fly even higher than she already has.â
Austin went on to discuss Gauffâs aggressive play style when match point down against Jovic.
Gauff responded: âYeah. I think for me it just shows like every point matters in tennis.â
Coco admitted after facing defeat that this is something she needs to address moving forward as one day it will cost her an important title or opportunity down the line in 2024.
After beating Mirra Andreeva 6-7, 6-1, 6-1 in the third round of the French Open, Coco Gauff was asked if experience played a role in her win.
Gauff, then just 19 years old, was still the more seasoned player compared to her younger opponent. Andreeva was only 16 at the time, and already showing signs of maturity beyond her years.
âI donât know if experience played â yes, maybe,â Gauff told reporters in Paris.
âI donât know, to be honest. When I played against her I didnât feel like she was lacking experience.
âHonestly at the end of the first set it was weird, I had a feeling that even though I lost that set, I felt like I won the set.â
âI think she plays beyond her years,â said Gauff. âAnd I donât know, feel similar to how I was.â
Read more:
Coco Gauff was warned about her forehand, which nearly cost her the match when she missed a crucial shot at match point.
Coco Gauff faced Jovic in her match at the Rome tournament.
Coco Gauff closed out the match strongly in the third set, securing her place in round three.

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