People may forget the victories but always remember the losses. Last year, Coco Gauff defeated Aryna Sabalenka to clinch her maiden Grand Slam title at the US Open. But this year, Aryna Sabalenka got her ‘revenge’ over the 19YO American at the Australian Open. There have been several post-match reviews and analyses to bring out the real cause of Coco Gauff’s defeat.

Recently, one of the rising broadcasting voices in tennis media, Abigail Johnson came to the Tennis Channel Inside-In podcast. She pointed out a major loophole in Gauff’s game style. She hinted that Coco Gauff being a defensive player means opponents like Aryna Sabalenka’s performance will determine the result of the match.

Tennis commentator thinks expectations on Coco Gauff were ‘far too heightened far too soon’

Despite the results at the 2024 AO, Sabalenka heaped praise on the teenager after the match. She said, “It was an incredible match. She’s a great player, always tough battles against her. I really enjoy playing her, like win or lose, anyway, it’s great matches.” The Belarusian wished to meet Gauff in many more finals in the near future. But Abigail Johnson believes Coco Gauff is ‘never gonna match Sabalenka.’

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During the podcast, Johnson said, “I think with Gauff, it will always be riding a little bit on the opponent’s racket when she’s up against someone like Sabalenka. Because she’s never gonna match Sabalenka for the strike up the grounds. That is something that she has accepted and solved with the game style that she has developed.“

She further added, “And I have nothing but respect for the work that Gauff has put in with her new team over the past few months. For me is gonna sound crazy to say it but I also think not quite ready to Kearney level. But the way that golf came into the arena, I think the expectations for her were far too heightened far too soon.“

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However, the German former tennis player, Andrea Petkovic had a different opinion when she came on ‘The Rennae Stubbs Podcast’ a month ago. She believes Coco Gauff has a game that often puts Aryna Sabalenka in ‘uncomfortable positions’. What does Coco Gauff think about her game?

‘All the ones I’ve lost I think I lost because of that’ -Gauff

The 19-year-old tennis sensation has already established herself as one of the best defenders in women’s tennis. But she’s well aware to take her game to the next level and bring in more of the ‘aggressive’ side of it. And, this is exactly what she said after the 2023 Miami Open.

“I think that’s kind of been where I’ve been messing up in all my matches this year. All the ones I’ve lost I think I lost because of that. I think [my defense] should be more used as a tool in a toolbox than as a weapon,” Coco Gauff.

Coco Gauff’s recent exit from the Dubai Duty-Free Tennis Championships at the hands of world no.40 Anna Kalinskaya in the QF is the main reason for the comeback of this debate surrounding her game style. What’s your take on this?

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