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
-
WTA Tour
Exclusive – Tim Henman backing Emma Raducanu after her stunning return to form
Tim Henman has told Tennis365 that Emma Raducanu will stun the sporting world once again
-
WTA Tour
Emma Raducanu blows past former World No 1 to reach last 16 in Cincy
Emma Raducanu was clearly the better player as she claimed her first win over a top 20 player since her US Open title run.
-
ATP Tour
Andy Murray hit by cramps again Cameron Norrie scrapes battle of the Brits
Andy Murray claimed the opening set but Cameron Norrie saved nine break points and downed the former World No 1.
-
US Open
US Open wildcards: Venus Williams and Dominic Thiem handed slots
Williams, who won at Flushing Meadows in 2000 and 2001, will compete at the age of 42.
-
ATP Tour
ATP Race to Turin: How things stand as tour rolls into Cincy
The ATP Race to Turin is getting tight.
-
Tennis News
Rafael Nadal cautious but excited ahead of ATP Tour return
Rafael Nadal says that he ‘has to be careful’.
-
US Open
Gael Monfils’ injury woes continue as he withdraws from US Open
Gael Monfils ruled out of another Grand Slam.
-
WTA Tour
Emma Raducanu urged to stick with Dmitry Tursunov by former British No 1: ‘Her tactics were good’
Emma Raducanu and Dmitry Tursunov off to a good start in Cincy.
-
WTA Tour
Simona Halep hits $40m mark in WTA career-prize money earnings, only behind Serena and Venus Williams
A look at where Simona Halep sits on some of the all-time WTA lists.
-
Tennis News
Exclusive – John Lloyd opens up on his broken marriage to Chris Evert
John Lloyd believes his marriage to Chris Evert was doomed to fail as the pair were simply too young and had the eyes of the world on them.