Coco Gauff Joins Maria Sharapova’s Elite Club Following Splendid Performance at French Open 2022

Coco Gauff, the American teenager who has been the surprise package at this year’s Roland Garros, turned pro in the year 2018. Gauff made her first impression on tennis fans in 2019 when she won her first WTA singles title in the 2019 Linz Open at just the age of 15. Thus, becoming the youngest WTA singles title holder since 2004.

Following that, owing to her remarkable skills, she became the youngest player to be ranked in the WTA top 100. The 18-year-old secured a career highest ranking of World No. 15 in April 2022. Further, she recently added yet another record to her tennis career.

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Currently, Gauff has made her way to the final of Roland Garros. And along with it, she secured the record of being the youngest French Open finalist since Kim Clijsters in 2001. In the semifinal, Gauff breezed past Martina Trevisan in straight sets, winning 6-3 6-1.

Further, the American also became the youngest major finalist since Maria Sharapova at 2004 Wimbledon. Maria Sharapova, at 17, defeated Serena Williams, who already had two Wimbledon trophies to her name at that time.

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Gauff is going strong in doubles as well. Alongside Jessica Pegula, whose singles campaign got uprooted by Iga Swiatek in the quarterfinals, she has made it up to the semifinals. They will meet the fellow American pair, Taylor Townsend and Madison Keys on 3rd May.

Gauff against Swiatek

The Polish tennis professional is in scintillating form. She has stormed every tournament since the Dubai international championship. Currently, she is carrying a winning streak of 33 matches and a habit of taking down her opponents in straight sets. In fact, in the ongoing tournament, apart from the 19-year-old Chinese, Zheng Qinwen, no other opponent has taken a set off the world number 1.

However, Gauff shares that trait with Swiatek as she has also won every match of this tournament in straight sets. Further, they have locked horns twice and both the times Swiatek came out victorious. They will be meeting on clay for the second time in their young careers.

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Their first clay based clash was at the 2021 Italian Open, where Swiatek, staying true to her nature, took a straight set win. Their second meeting is scheduled on 4th June. We will have to wait and see if Gauff can clinch her first Grand Slam title or the 2020 French Open champion will further extend her winning streak.