Coco Gauff has made a remarkable entry at Wimbledon! The WTA star, who had to go through one of the biggest setbacks of her career during the same time last year, proved her levels of improvement. While she could never really unleash her complete potential on the green surface, the 20-year-old’s recent performance seems to have flipped the existing opinion of analysts.

Former world number one Ashleigh Barty couldn’t stop herself from being lost in the admiration for Coco Gauff’s performance. In her first-round match at Wimbledon 2024, the WTA star not only surpassed a challenge but also showcased new levels of confidence. Commenting on Gauff’s use of her signature backhand slice against Caroline Dolehide, Barty said, “That must have felt quite nice.”

Drawing a conclusion from her overall performance in the opening round, Barty further added, “It just shows the growth in Coco’s game. To be able to use the whole court, use the shape on the forehand, bring in the slice, and then mounting the pressure.” This came after her convincing 6-1, 6-2 win over compatriot Caroline Dolehide.

This remarkable victory was in stark contrast to her first-round exit last year, where she lost to another American WTA star Sofia Kenin. Gauff’s recent win against Dolehide highlights how much she has worked on her grass-court grip, which is analyzed to be one of the biggest challenges for her.

Even Coco Gauff herself took some time to delve into the dark memories of last year’s defeat. However, she saw it as a motivation, focusing on the remarkable changes she has made in her form. “I wish a-year-ago-me could see me now. I was really in a dark place… But I think I’ve grown a lot. I’m glad I used that moment to strive to get better. The next part of the season was the best I’ve ever had. That just shows bad moments don’t last forever,” Gauff said in a recent interview with the Wimbledon team.

Gauff’s confidence extended from her word to the performance in her recent showdown. The upcoming match against Romanian qualifier Anca Todoni will be another opportunity for the 20-year-old to showcase her growth on the surface. While the changes made are evident, it isn’t just Ashleigh Barty who could note them.

Chris Evert marks Coco Gauff’s recent showdown as “the best”

The excitement among the crowd seemed to be worth it as Coco Gauff unleashed her dominance. While it was her first appearance on grass courts after the recent defeat against Jessica Pegula in the semi-finals of Berlin, the takeaways were visible in her performance. Chris Evert, after a detailed analysis and comparison of Gauff’s form in the recent match against all other showdowns played on grass, couldn’t think of anything but appreciation.

“This is one of the best grass court tennis matches I have seen her play,” the former pro said, complimenting Coco Gauff’s rising graph on the green surface. The young American’s dominance gave Evert a new vision of optimism as she pressed on the fact that the trophy belongs to the 20-year-old if she keeps going this way.

Gauff’s second-round showdown time is yet to be decided. But as the time approaches, fans will be looking forward to seeing if it was a one-time thing or comes with consistency.