Venus Williams, it's done, Naomie Osaka, it's done, who's next ? When she is not even old enough to take a driver's license in the United States, the American Cori Gauff has just had two very big results at the Australian Open, she who was in the 453rd world place on March 15, the day of its fifteenth anniversary.
By tapping the world number 3 and title holder Naomi Osaka, 22 years old - the Jeanne Calment equivalent on the Cori Gauff old age scale - the kid became the first player under 16 to beat a top 5 since Friday Jennifer Capriati against Sabatini at the US Open in 1991. A feat that should please the interested party, who loves records even more than the creator of the Guinness Book himself.
Unbelievable.
15-year-old Coco Gauff has defeated defending Australian Open champ and world No. 3 Naomi Osaka in straight sets. pic.twitter.com/G81bVhEVfp
On the hunt for records
This was what his coach, French Jean-Christophe Faurel, told us after qualifying for the round of 16 at Wimbledon (the first of his career) last year. "Since she was 8 years old, her father said to her" ok you play, but you know why you do it ". To break records. Since she was 12, she has not been afraid of anyone. At that age, if she had played a top 100, she would have gone there to win. Even if it was not necessarily possible. But that's what she says to herself, “says former coach Adrian Mannarino.
She must therefore probably keep in her mind another record, that of the youngest world number 1 in history. It is Martina Hingis, who landed on the throne at 16 years, 6 months and 1 day after winning the late Key Biscayne tournament (Miami today) in 1997. Two months earlier, the Slovak also became the youngest player of all time to win a grand slam tournament (16 years, 3 months and 26 days at the Australian Open against Mary Pierce).
They qualified for the 3rd round of at least 3 Grand Slam tournaments before 16 years old since 1990 ...
🇺🇸 Jennifer Capriati
🇨🇭 Martina Hingis
🇺🇸 Coco Gauff # AusOpen pic.twitter.com/3h3X9kziGk
On paper, by zooming in on both the calendar and the WTA ranking, "Coco" Gauff still has his chances. Even if for the former French player Camille Pin, the challenge turns out to be a bit dry. "It's going to be complicated because in terms of points, I don't think she can get that much, even by playing very well from the start of the season," advises the tennis consultant. Let's say that on the timing it seems hot to me since Barty still has a good mattress ahead of the classification. However I am convinced that this place is reserved for him very soon. "
Coco Gauff Fears No One
It is true that in the ranking, there does not seem to be a photo: 8017 points for Barty, world premiere, 885 for Gauff, 67th. Even in a more unstable women's circuit than Donald Trump on a full moon evening, it is not forbidden to believe in one's chances. “Victory in Melbourne and a half at Roland, it's settled. I believe it, ”said our 20-minute sports doctor from Friday morning. We're a player, we follow him.
Not Camille Pin: "It is sure that it is so open in the female table that it can do something but I do not see it yet winning a grand slam. It can send a half without problem but from there to go lift the trophy, it still seems a little fair this year. Obviously Cori Gauff does not share the reservations of her elder. After her victory over Osaka, the teenager answered a frank question to a journalist who asked her if she could go all the way to Melbourne.
"She has unlimited potential", the prodigy Cori Gauff seen by her coach https://t.co/boJSNKqotV
- 20 Minutes (@ 20Minutes) July 5, 2019"Even before the tournament begins, each player, I think, thinks they can win," she says, already very comfortable with the media. Some believe it stronger than others. So I'm not even wondering about the title holder [speaking of Osaka] because, at the time, I only think about playing the ball. I always believe that I can win, no matter who my opponent is. "
“In fact, from a very young age, she has been formatted to succeed, her coach told us already last summer after her victory against Venus Williams. She has such huge goals as playing Venus, yes it's fabulous because he's her idol, but she isn't going to have a good time. She goes there to beat her. She only thinks about that. The only thing that will make her happy at the end of the court is to have won. This is where it is different from the others. The hunt for records is launched.
Sport
Australian Open: Defending champion Osaka released by Coco Gauff (you know the 15-year-old kid?)
- Australian Open
- Sport
- Tennis