Coco Gauff sets up Naomi Osaka blockbuster clash, but confident hype won’t impact her game

The Western & Southern Open will play host to Naomi Osaka v Coco Gauff on Wednesday and the latter is confident she can now deal with the hype that comes with the big matches.
Gauff brushed aside Hsieh Su-wei of Chinese Taipei 6-1, 6-2 in the opening round to set up an encounter with four-time Grand Slam champion Osaka.
The American broke twice in the opening set and three times in the second, although Hsieh managed one break of her own in the second set.
Ace 💥@CocoGauff swiftly into the second round! Will face the No.2 seed Naomi Osaka next.#CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/PMEL5DiDHf
— wta (@WTA) August 17, 2021
The attention, though, quickly shifted to her second-round clash against the world No 2, who will return to WTA Tour action for the first time since withdrawing from the French Open.
It will be the pair’s third head-to-head match with Osaka winning their first meeting at the 2019 US Open before Gauff got revenge at the Australian Open the following year with victory in the third round.
Asked if the buzz has an impact on her, the 17-year-old replied: “I will say in the past it [the buzz] did impact how I played, especially during the US Open match. It definitely had an impact. But I think I learned from that experience as it was the first match for me with all the hype and everything affected me.
“It was different against Venus [at Wimbledon in 2019] because before the match no one expected me to do well so there was no pressure. At the US Open match [against Osaka] people expected a great match and it was a great match, but the score was not so entertaining for other people.
“I will say that it did affect me then, but I needed that experience to help me. Now when I go into these matches I know to turn off the phone or not focus on what other people say. You are out there on the court and everything you do on the court is what I think is best in that moment. For me I try my best just by focusing on myself.”
Coco Gauff to win a three-setter against Naomi Osaka? Take a punt with Planet Sport Bet!
The teenager believes she now knows how to deal with the pressure ahead and during the blockbuster encounters.
“I definitely did learn a lot from both matches [against Osaka],” Gauff said. “The second match, I learned that I can perform well under the pressure, and that I do have a lot more fun on the court when I try not to focus on the expectations of other people and myself, whereas I didn’t really find that I guess balance until that Australian Open match.”
Latest
-
ATP Tour
Holger Rune thrilled to get off the scorching Hard Rock Stadium court
Holger Rune was happy to get out of the Miami heat.
-
News
On this day: Kim Clijsters announces return to tennis
Clijsters made her grand slam comeback at the US Open and went on to lift the trophy.
-
ATP Tour
Watch: Novak Djokovic hits the clay ahead of Monte Carlo return
Check out Novak Djokovic training on clay.
-
WTA Tour
Watch: Jelena Ostapenko calls out ‘disrespectful’ crowd
Jelena Ostapenko claimed it was like a football match.
-
ATP Tour
Cameron Norrie refuses to blame injury for Miami Open exit
Cameron Norrie required treatment for an ankle injury.
-
ATP Tour
Hubert Hurkacz comes through epic battle with Thanasi Kokkinakis
Hubert Hurkacz won a match that stands as the longest three-setter of the season to date.
-
Tennis News
Elena Rybakina downs Paula Badosa in instant classic
Elena Rybakina keeps coming up with the goods.
-
Tennis News
WATCH: ‘Greek god’ Marton Fucsovics takes shirt off to reveal ripped body
Marton Fucsovics shows off his muscles again.
-
WTA Tour
Aryna Sabalenka eyes Iga Swiatek’s No 1 spot – Why Sabalenka could usurp the Pole in the coming months
Aryna Sabalenka’s world No 1 goal could be within touching distance.
-
ATP Tour
What Novak Djokovic needs to do to be top seed at French Open
Novak Djokovic has a big chance to be back at No 1 in time for the French Open.