Coco Gauff is likely one of the most distinguished younger stars in tennis, and it’s unbelievable to see her progress. Nevertheless, one factor may preserve her from reaching superstardom — Coco is a closet perfectionist.
Tennis takes Coco Gauff to the best of highs (beating Aryana Sabalenka) and lowest of lows (shedding to Aryana Sabalenka 4 months later). Nonetheless, by all of it, one factor stays fixed. It isn’t Coco’s recreation. It’s not even the kind of tennis racket she makes use of. It’s her kryptonite — perfectionism.
Per Abby Aguirre of Vogue Journal, Coco has been working to subdue her have to be excellent, even when she wins, saying, “I’ve all the time recognized I used to be a perfectionist…It’s not like I’m saying, ‘Good job, Coco.’ It’s like, ‘Okay, why didn’t you do this sooner?’”
The euphoria @CocoGauff felt profitable championship level ultimately yr’s US Open—a second that introduced all of Arthur Ashe to its toes—continues to be indescribable. “For the remainder of my life, the remainder of my profession,” she says, “I’m going to be chasing that top.” https://t.co/dkc6uTfnC2 pic.twitter.com/OBxCmIcrKB
— Vogue Journal (@voguemagazine) March 6, 2024
thanks @voguemagazine for this wonderful cowl. it’s actually an honor and i’m without end grateful for this chance ❤️✨ pic.twitter.com/D2jMiKJqXy
— Coco Gauff (@CocoGauff) March 6, 2024
Candi Gauff, Coco’s mother, shared with Vogue that Coco’s perfectionism began younger, and never even spelling competitions had been protected. If CoCo missed one phrase, she wouldn’t let it go. That drive — that will likely be completely excellent — has pushed Coco into tennis royalty conversations, very like her idols Venus and Serena Williams.
Nonetheless, her new coach, ESPN commentator Brad Gilbert, who famously coached one other perfectionist, Andre Agassi, desires her to recollect one factor:
“I advised her, ‘The pursuit of perfection doesn’t exist. It makes you depressing, chasing it. And also you’re by no means glad with being good.’ She’s simply all the time gotta be higher. Andre was the identical. And it’s like, ‘You solely gotta be higher than the girl on the opposite aspect of the web.’ That’s it. This complete being-better-than-you-need-to-be prices you numerous matches.”