Wimbledon 2023: Didn’t put pressure on her, says dejected Coco Gauff after losing to Sofia Kenin in first round

No.7 seed Coco Gauff admitted that she wasn’t able to put Sofia Kenin under any sort of pressure in the Wimbledon 2023 women’s singles first round match on Monday, July 3.

Gauff, who is deemed as one of the most promising players on the WTA circuit, faced a shock exit after losing 4-6, 6-4, 2-6 in two hours and three minutes.

The 19-year-old Gauff, who also had a disappointing run in the French Open 2023, lauded Kenin for showing a lot of aggression with her backhand.

“I think I didn’t really put too much pressure on her. I felt like she could make a ball on the court, didn’t have to be as good, and I wouldn’t do much with it. That’s what happened. If I played too passive, she has a game where she can hit aggressive shots, especially off the backhand side,” Gauff was quoted as saying.

Kenin, also a former World No.4, had to win three matches in the qualifiers to make her way into the main draw. Gauff said that the 24-year-old carried the confidence of her wins in the qualifiers into the match against her.

Gauff hit 33 winners, 11 more than her opponent, but that she made 33 unforced errors ended up costing her big time. Gauff also hit 12 aces compared to Kenin’s 1, but again, five unforced errors didn’t help her.

“I knew that with three wins under her belt from qualies, I knew she was going to be playing with confidence. It’s always possible for somebody to get back to that level. She’s still on the younger end of her career. I think with how she played today, it shouldn’t be too long,” she added.