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Former tennis player and Eurosport analyst Mats Wilander has sounded a cautionary note for Coco Gauff as she approaches her semifinal showdown with Karolina Muchova at the US Open. He suggests that Gauff will need to carefully consider her strategy to find a way to outsmart her opponent.<\/p>\n
Gauff beat Muchova in straight sets in the Cincinnati Open final two weeks ago to claim her first WTA 1000 title. She has been warned to keep her wits about her against the Roland-Garros runner-up.<\/p>\n
“I have to throw a warning flag,”\u00a0Wilander cautioned. “Even though Coco beat her in Cincinnati, Muchova possesses the kind of game that allows her to assess the situation, play daring tennis, recognize when it’s not working, and adapt accordingly.”<\/p>\n
The former Swedish player also emphasized that Gauff must engage her strategic thinking throughout the match. “Coco really needs to have her thinking cap on when she faces Muchova. This is a significant opportunity for her as a 19-year-old. Youth is on her side, but she needs to seize this opportunity,” he concluded.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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Don’t miss… <\/strong> Gauff and Muchova are chasing their first-ever Grand Slam title in New York. Both players have reached the pinnacle of a Grand Slam final, with Gauff’s runner-up finish last year and Muchova’s recent runner-up performance in this year’s French Open, where Iga Swiatek defeated them.<\/p>\n The world No. 6\u00a0demonstrated her composure in handling her opponent’s heat, humidity, and formidable big-hitting style as she aimed to secure her first-ever spot in the US Open semifinals. She achieved this goal by defeating 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko with a commanding scoreline of 6-0, 6-2.<\/p>\n Gauff continued her impressive dominant performances at the US Open on Tuesday, swiftly defeating Ostapenko in straight sets. The world No. 6 delivered a commanding performance by not allowing her opponent to win a single game in the opening set.\u00a0<\/p>\n We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info<\/p>\n “Honestly, I didn’t feel comfortable during the match \u2013 even on the match points,” Gauff added. “I know the game [Ostapenko] plays. She has the ability to come back no matter the scoreline, so I was just trying to get every point, put every ball in.”<\/p>\n “It’s really tough against her because you can’t really be aggressive, so I was trying my best to be aggressive when I could, and most of the time, I was just trying to get the ball deep. She’s a tough player, and she had a great tournament.”<\/p>\n If Gauff can defeat Muchova, she will take on the winner of the semifinal matchup between fellow American Madison Keys and Belarusian player Aryna Sabalenka, who is soon to be listed as the No. 1 player in the world.<\/p>\n Sabalenka has expressed her confidence in her current form, stating she is “playing great tennis.” Viewers of her performances have been optimistic about her chances, with many considering her a strong contender to win the tournament.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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