“I want to hear other opinions because, and I believe it’s more of a mental challenge because I can easily make 30 serves in a row on the practice court. I’ve done it before,” Gauff expressed. “I think it’s a mental obstacle that I need to overcome. I want to explore other options because I don’t want to lose matches like this anymore.”
Gauff also shared her struggle with her serve, stating, “I lean to my left side a lot during my serve, and although I’m aware of it, it’s hard to avoid in the moment.”
“Mentally I gave it and emotionally I gave it my all” – Gauff
This marked the second consecutive Grand Slam event where Navarro eliminated Gauff. Navarro previously defeated her at Wimbledon in straight sets and seemed poised to do the same on Sunday as she claimed the first set and a break.
Despite this, Gauff made a comeback to win the second set and push for a deciding set before ultimately being defeated. The 2023 US Open champion expressed satisfaction with her fighting spirit and gave her all mentally and emotionally.
“I fought hard today. Overall, I think I performed well. The main issue was not maintaining my serve, resulting in too many free points. I gave my everything mentally and emotionally. Of course, there were execution issues, particularly with my serve. If I had performed better in that aspect, the match could have had a different outcome.
“I felt like my groundstrokes improved with each match. I believe I was hitting both sides decently. Perhaps my return wasn’t as strong in the first set, and even in the second, but I managed to find it. While I didn’t consistently play my best throughout the match, there were instances of good tennis. I need to strive for more consistency in my game. Mentally I gave it and emotionally I gave it my all.”
I expect better, but at the end of the day it happened, and I know I can turn it around.
Despite the loss, Gauff emphasized the importance of maintaining perspective, acknowledging that many other players would desire the results she has achieved.
“It’s not the summer I desired. There are probably 70 other players in the draw who would envy the summer I had, even though it may be my least successful time of the year,” the American stated. “Many individuals would aspire to reach the fourth round, make the Olympics, or be a flag bearer. It’s all about perspective. While I am disappointed as I strive for greater achievements, I won’t dwell on this setback. I expect better, but I understand it happened, and I have the ability to bounce back.”
Gauff admitted uncertainty regarding her schedule for the remainder of the season but expressed a desire for a focused training period.
“I’m unsure about my schedule for the end of the year. I feel the need for a substantial training block. I haven’t had one since before the clay season began,” Gauff explained. “I will assess how Asia goes, and if I qualify for the WTA Finals, I will participate. Looking ahead, I intend to have a dedicated training block and will determine the number of tournaments to play for the rest of the year.”
