Coco Gauff has grabbed the attention of all tennis fans as she has finally started to realize her potential in the past few months. Since she stepped into the Washington Open, Gauff has been playing on a different level altogether. After winning three tournaments, including her first Grand Slam title, she secured her spot in the WTA Finals. But there are some rumors about the 19-year-old player stepping into season-ending championships injured.
The WTA Finals is one of the biggest tournaments in the WTA Tour after the Grand Slams. While many players get the chance to play in the slams, only the top 8 players in the official ranking charts can participate in the Finals. Gauff is playing as the third seed.
Is Coco Gauff injured ahead of the WTA Finals?
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The WTA Finals is about to kick-off, and fans have already picked their favorite players. Most American tennis fans and a good chunk of the fanbase in the world are supporting the 19-year-old Gauff. Her fan-following skyrocketed as she managed to secure her first Major win in thumping fashion in her home Grand Slam event, the 2023 US Open. However, there may be some trouble in paradise ahead of the WTA Finals.
According to the New York Times, Gauff’s manager, Alessandro Barel Di Sant, revealed that she is injured. Gauff experienced some irritation in her leg when she faced Iga Swiatek in the China Open. She then pulled out of the Zhengzhou Open. No further information is available about her injury, therefore, it is unclear how she’ll perform in the championship.
Di Sant further announced that she would only focus on the WTA Finals and withdrew from the Billie Jean King Cup. Gauff’s absence in the BJK Cup will be a big blow. However, Gauff is not the only top-10 American player who was absent from the BJK roster.
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Yet another American star set to miss out on the BJK Cup
Jessica Pegula is currently the world No.5 and is placed in group one. While fans will get to witness her perform in Cancun, they will not see her play in the Billie Jean King Cup. Her withdrawal was announced along with Coco Gauff’s. The two doubles partners, who are the No.1 pair at the moment, will not showcase their talents in the BJK Cup.
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Even Swiatek has withdrawn from the BJK Cup, dealing a major blow to Poland. The absence of the three players came due to the scheduling of the tournament. This evoked Billie Jean King herself to ask the WTA to make improve their hectic schedules for the players. Considering that she is a prominent figure in the sport, her voice is likely to make a big impact. As she steps forward, we might just see the three absent players play in the BJK Cup next year.
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