© Getty Pictures Sport – Clive Brunskill
Coco Gauff says she is completely not superstitious about 6-0 units because the American funnily stated that she can be hoping to not less than get near Iga Swiatek’s bagel numbers and have not less than “a mini bakery.”
On Wednesday, Gauff celebrated her twentieth birthday in model as she destroyed world No. 28 Elise Mertens 6-0 6-2 within the Indian Wells round-of-16. For the top-ranked American feminine tennis participant, it was her fifteenth win of the yr but in addition her fourth set received in 2024 with a 6-0 scoreline.
Within the final two years, world No. 1 Swiatek had by far essentially the most bagel units on the WTA Tour, clinching 22 in 2022 and 23 final yr, respectively. To this point this season, Swiatek has had 4 bagel units. Swiatek’s spectacular bagel numbers have led to followers creating memes about it, which regularly see the Pole serving bagels within the imaginary “Iga Swiatek bakery.”
Following her win over Mertens, Gauff was requested if she feared getting a bagel set would carry some dangerous luck as a result of some male gamers have this superstition that they’d lose the following set after successful one with a 6-0 scoreline.
“Actually, I believe I am making an attempt to get as many 6-0 units as attainable as a result of we have now Iga who has the bakery. I can have a mini one,” Gauff stated.
“I did give it some thought, as a result of I keep in mind Taylor Fritz stated in an interview… I’ve solely heard Taylor’s concerning the 6-0 set. He was, I will lose a sport to make it 6-1. I did take into consideration that. I do not imagine in that superstition. Clearly it occurs, I really feel like, extra ceaselessly than you assume.
“However, yeah, I do not imagine in it (smiling).”
Gauff hopes to win her first Indian Wells title this yr
Though Gauff turned simply 20 on Wednesday, that is already her fourth Indian Wells look. In her earlier three appearances, the American picked up back-to-back third-round exits in 2021 and 2022 earlier than dropping within the Indian Wells quarterfinal final yr.
On Thursday, Gauff shall be taking over world No. 49 Yue Yuan, in a match the place she would be the absolute favourite to finish on the successful aspect. For the 20-year-old American, successful Indian Wells is one thing she completely needs to perform and he or she hopes that may come this week.
“I believe, clearly I wish to win this event, I am enjoying in it. However I’ll say, yeah, it is undoubtedly one of many tournaments I wish to win not less than as soon as in my profession. Hopefully it may be now. I really feel fairly good about my probabilities,” Gauff stated.
“Clearly Miami being a house event, that may be a dream to win, as properly.”
Gauff on her distinctive path
On her twentieth birthday, Gauff was additionally requested to mirror on her life and her distinctive path. When making a query to Gauff, a reporter acknowledged that many different 20 yr olds are involved and occupied with another issues in life equivalent to midterms, spring break, relationships, and so forth…
However in her 20, Gauff is already massively completed and her life is every little thing however an strange life.
Answering the query, Gauff admitted that she feels very “blessed” to be on this place but in addition underlined that in her complete life she has been a really onerous employee.
“Yeah, I undoubtedly do acknowledge the distinctiveness of it. It’s a distinction of why me and in addition the work that I put in. Yeah, I imply, actually it is, like, yeah, I do not assume it is solely due to work, as a result of lots of people work onerous. Some folks, I do not know, simply — I am fortunate that I used to be born with an ideal athletic skill, which type of helps me. I additionally was born with, like, a piece ethic and discovered the best way to work onerous and may take pleasure in working onerous,” Gauff defined.
“However yeah, it’s typically, like, Why me? As a result of once more, on tour, and even after I was enjoying like 25s and also you simply see ladies are actually working onerous, it isn’t like they are not working onerous however they simply cannot get it. Not that I say I’ve all of it found out, as a result of I do not, however I’m very blessed to be within the place I’m in.”
After addressing the tennis a part of the query, Gauff revealed that there’s the “why me” half in terms of her off-court standing and being on journal covers and hanging out with celebrities. Whereas Gauff is pleasantly shocked to be on this place, she highlighted that she is simply grateful and appreciative of the truth that folks gravitate towards her.
In the meantime, Gauff shall be assembly 25-year-old Yuan for the primary time after they conflict in opposition to one another within the Indian Wells quarterfinal.