Coco Gauff out to bounce back after WTA Finals flop

Coco Gauff on the move

Coco Gauff hopes to put a disappointing week in Fort Worth behind her when she represents the United States in the Billie Jean King Cup.

Gauff lost all three of her matches in the WTA Finals and said it was a humbling experience.

She was the youngest player to qualify for the WTA Finals in singles since Maria Sharapova in 2005, and added to that by also qualifying for the doubles in a team with American No 1 Jessica Pegula.

“It’s probably the worst week of the year for me,” Gauff said. “I never lost so much so fast.

“It’s an adjustment I guess. Going to BJK Cup I think will be better, I have a team and team-mates who are ready to play.

“So I think right now my mindset is just on that and try not to dwell too much on this because I still have a team I need to be there for. So I’m kind of grateful I have that tournament because it would be an awful way to end the year on this.”

Gauff says she hopes to use the finals experience as motivation as she hates to lose.

“It gives me a lot of motivation to do better because losing sucks. For me, I’m going to remember this feeling and use it to feel when I practice, use it to feel when I hopefully play this again,” said Gauff.

“It’s definitely an experience thing, especially when you lose your opening match I would say it’s the toughest. Because you know you probably have to win that next match to have a better shot at qualifying. I think next time I will try not to dwell too much, regardless if I won or lost the opening match.”

The United States will face Poland in thei first match of their Billie Jean King Cup finals group.

Poland will be without World No 1 Iga Swiatek who withdrew from the event over a scheduling conflict.

The USA will also face the Czech Republic with that tie schedule for Friday 11 November.

USA have a strong team for the 2022 Billie Jean King Cup, boasting four singles players ranked among the WTA’s Top 15.

The United States have won more Billie Jean King Cup titles than any other nation in history, having been crowned champions 18 times.

Despite sporting a strong team it will be a challenge for the USA to get out of their group with 11-time champions Czech Republic always up for a team battle.

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