Coco Gauff opens up about clay transition as she also makes Serena Williams and Aryna Sabalenka confession
US Open champion Coco Gauff says that her transition to playing on clay will begin with her training regime.
Gauff says that the physical requirements of clay demand a different type of training.
The 20-year-old says that her training will be about injury prevention.
“Yeah, it’s pretty simple. I think we work more on the legs and the glutes because you do a lot of sliding, a lot of awkward movements. It’s a lot of injury prevention,” Gauff said in Miami when asked about the sharp switch from hard courts to clay between March and April.
“Other than that, it’s just gradually changing surface. You’re not going to go out the first day and have a super incredible movement practice. I feel like when you play on it more, it just hits you like that.”
The world No 3 added that she is motivated by achieving her goals and added that her immediate focus is to win as many matches as she can.
When reporters quizzed her on her motivation right now, Gauff said: “I think just my goals.
“I just want to win as much as possible. Yeah, I think the taste of winning is something indescribable, especially big tournaments. So I just want to keep tasting it.”
Gauff singles out her competitive spirit as one of her greatest strengths on the court.
“Yeah, my competitiveness I think is probably my strength,” the American told reporters. “I think it’s not something that’s taught or learned. It’s just one of those things you have to find deep down inside of you.
“Yeah, I’ve always been like that my whole life. Hopefully, I don’t lose that spirit.”
Gauff counts Serena Williams as the greatest competitor she has ever seen.
However, when it comes to players that she has faced she declared Aryna Sabalenka as the toughest.
“The greatest competitor that I have faced, let me think,” the reigning US Open champion said. “Actually – that I have seen, definitely Serena. I’ve never played her. I’m trying to think of people that I’ve played that every time I play is very competitive.
“I would say Aryna Sabalenka, I think. She’s an incredible competitor.
“She’s just one of those players you play, and no matter the score you know she’s always going to compete and find a way even if she’s not playing her best.”
Gauff is energised by her competitive spirit which she cannot really account for because it is an ever-present.
“I mean, when I’m playing, yeah, it energizes me,” the American said.
“But, I mean, I’ve only been like that my whole life so I don’t know how to not be like that. It’s a tough question for me to answer, because I don’t really know any other way.”
