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‘Not Used to Playing With..’- Crushing Loss to Iga Swiatek Brings More ‘Pain’ to Coco Gauff as She Drops Concerning Update

Published 10/08/2023, 3:04 AM EDT

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With 12 straight victories from her impressive performances throughout the American hard-court swing season, Coco Gauff arrived at the Beijing Open in top shape. During the tournament in China, the young WTA sensation further extended her winning streak to 16 by outclassing some of the big guns to secure a place in the semifinal round.

After another brilliant campaign this season, the newly crowned Grand Slam champion, however, fell as she has now finally tasted a defeat at the hands of her fierce adversary, Iga Swiatek. But for the 19-year-old, who was visibly struggling with an injury during the blockbuster encounter, there were some unfavorable conditions according to her recent disclosures.

Coco Gauff gives details about her injury after her defeat against Iga Swiatek

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Carrying on her great on-court momentum from the US Open, the current world No. 3 brushed aside some of the top opponents including Maria Sakkari and Veronika Kudermetova in the Beijing Open. After a remarkable run in China, Coco Gauff was one victory away from yet another championship match this season.

However, the American tennis prodigy’s stellar campaign has now come to an end as she was thumped by Iga Swiatek in a one-sided semifinal match (6-2, 6-3). After her heartbreaking defeat, the 19-year-old spoke candidly about her right shoulder injury that forced her into a medical time-out during the match.

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In her post-match conference, Gauff said, “I’m not the type to call the physiotherapist. My coach recommended that I do it. It helped. But it’s really a new experience. I’m not used to playing with pain in general”.

During the honest conversation, the young WTA star also revealed that her shoulder injury also bothered her during the quarter-final match against the 6th seed Greek.  The reigning US Open champion’s recent setback, nevertheless, doesn’t appear to have had much of an impact on her outlook, as she was able to see the bigger picture of her outstanding season.

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Gauff is proud of her recent on-court victories and success

After tasting tremendous success during the American hardcourt season, the young tennis star now has six WTA singles titles under her belt. On top of all this, the American has now established herself at the third spot in the WTA rankings, largely thanks to her US Open title. Notably, after her recent defeat in China, Gauff was able to appreciate just what a fantastic season she had.

The tennis prodigy said, “I’m very proud of myself,” while she also opened up about making some improvements to her game for the next season.

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What do you think of the American tennis star’s outlook after her recent defeat at the Beijing Open? Let us know in the comments section.

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Written by:

Anurag Gusain

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Anurag Gusain is a tennis writer at EssentiallySports. Being a huge tennis fan, he enjoys watching the Spanish legend Rafael Nadal dominate other superstars on the ATP Tour. His coverage of Nadal's 14 French Open titles has been hailed as some of the best in the business, showcasing his talent for storytelling and his ability to capture the essence of the sport.
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Edited by:

Mitali Dey