MusaCoco Gauff has opened up about one of the most difficult moments of her 2024 season — her shock first-round exit at Wimbledon — and revealed the unexpected way she was able to bounce back. The 20-year-old American, who entered the tournament as one of the favorites, fell to an inspired opponent in a defeat that stunned fans and pundits alike.
Speaking ahead of her Cincinnati Open campaign, Gauff admitted that the loss hit her harder than she initially let on. “It was tough, because I had really high expectations for myself going into Wimbledon,” she said. “When you’re out in the first round, it’s not just the match you lose — it’s all the work you put in, all the plans you had for the next two weeks.”
Gauff confessed that she dealt with the disappointment by stepping away from the sport for a short time. “I didn’t touch a racket for a few days,” she revealed. “I just needed to disconnect. I spent time with friends, watched movies, and reminded myself that tennis is what I do, but it’s not all that I am.”
She also credited her team for helping her regain her competitive mindset. “They reminded me that even the best players in history have bad days at Slams. What matters is how you respond,” Gauff said. “I tried to focus on what I could control — my training, my mindset — instead of dwelling on what had already happened.”
The young star admitted that her rebound wasn’t instant. Her next tournament results were steady but not spectacular, and she had to work on regaining her confidence match by match. “You can’t fake confidence — you have to earn it back,” she explained. “It’s like building a tower again, brick by brick.”
Now, just weeks after that crushing disappointment, Gauff appears to have found her rhythm again. At the Cincinnati Open, she’s looked sharper and more composed, displaying the aggressive all-court game that helped her capture the 2023 US Open title.
Looking back, Gauff says she’s oddly grateful for the Wimbledon loss. “It forced me to reset,” she said. “Sometimes you need those moments to realize what you need to work on — not just technically, but mentally.”
With the US Open approaching, Gauff’s ability to turn a low point into a source of motivation could be crucial. “I’m definitely hungrier now,” she said with a smile. “If anything, Wimbledon just made me want to prove myself even more.”
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