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The highs of carrying the U.S. flag at the
Paris opening ceremony and trading Olympic pins with her
sporting idols quickly evaporated on the clay at Roland Garros.
Another abbreviated, error-filled run at the Cincinnati Open
last week left the 20-year-old American reeling in the lead-up
to her first career Grand Slam title defence.
Gauff made 50 unforced errors in that match against Yulia
Putintseva, including nine double faults, as her 34th-ranked
opponent exploited Gauff's forehand and dispatched the champion.
"I feel like I have to work on consistency, overall," Gauff
said, adding that she would go home to reset before hitting the
hard-court at Flushing Meadows.
Gauff now hopes athleticism and a big serve on her favourite
playing surface will help her reclaim the dominance that lifted
the American as high as world number two earlier this year.
With no dominant force like Serena Williams currently mowing
through the women's draws, the odds are strong on Gauff becoming
the first repeat U.S. Open champion since her idol Serena won
three straight a decade ago.
A gruelling 2024 tennis schedule featuring the emotional
challenge of competing in a Paris Games played at times in
sweltering heat has worn down the women's field and left the
tournament wide open to any player that hits a hot streak.
"I do think that everyone's getting a little tired and it's been
a long year," said six-times U.S. Open champion and ESPN tennis
analyst Chris Evert.
"It's going to be who's the freshest for seven matches and who
can hold on and get the energy they need," she said.
"Do I think (Gauff) can turn it around? One hundred percent I
think she can."
(Reporting by Karl Plume in Chicago; Editing by Ken Ferris) [© 2024 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
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