Coco Gauff warned about key weakness after Rome comeback

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Coco Gauff came within a point of crashing out early in Rome on Monday.

Jovic held match point at 5-3, but she couldn’t 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 Gauff’s performance:

Tracy Austin believes Coco Gauff needs to step into her forehand more often

Photo by Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP via Getty Images

“Those are the things you can’t see [Coco’s grit and determination], right?” two-time Australian Open champion Jim Courier said on the Tennis Channel.

“When 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 aren’t the ones who have the results.

“And you can certainly say that Coco’s, the technique on the serve and the forehand, are works in progress.

“But there’s never been a question about her commitment to the contest and to the battle, and she showed it again on match point.

“It 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.

“So 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 she’ll be able to fly even higher than she already has.”

Austin went on to discuss Gauff’s aggressive play style when match point down against Jovic.

Gauff responded: “Yeah. I think for me it just shows like every point matters in tennis.”

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.

Coco Gauff reflects on first win over Mirra Andreeva

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.

“I don’t know if experience played — yes, maybe,” Gauff told reporters in Paris.

“I don’t know, to be honest. When I played against her I didn’t feel like she was lacking experience.

“Honestly 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.”

“I think she plays beyond her years,” said Gauff. “And I don’t know, feel similar to how I was.”

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