A year ago, Gauff entered Wimbledon as the 7th seed, carrying high hopes for her performance. Unfortunately, she was eliminated in her opening match by former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin. Reflecting on the past, Gauff said, “I wish I could have seen how far I’ve come since that match a year ago.”
Gauff looks back on the surprise of Wimbledon 2023, where she was favored against her Billie Jean King Cup teammate Sofia Kenin. Kenin, ranked No. 128 and without a main draw win at Wimbledon, defeated Gauff 6-4, 4-6, 6-2, delivering one of the tournament’s early upsets.
The tough loss at Wimbledon gave Gauff a new perspective and fueled her rise on the WTA Tour. Following Wimbledon, she excelled during the US hardcourt swing, capturing titles at the WTA 500 Washington Open, WTA 1000 Cincinnati Open, and her first Grand Slam at the US Open.
Gauff won 24 of her next 28 matches, with losses only to Iga Swiatek and Jessica Pegula, finishing the season as world No. 3. Reflecting on her career, she acknowledged the pressure she felt but remains focused on her goals: “It was tough for me to realize I have so much time. I still have high expectations.”
Heading into this year’s Wimbledon, Gauff feels relaxed, noting that her last performance there couldn’t be worse and can only improve. As the tournament’s second seed, she is set to avoid facing Iga Swiatek until a possible final.
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Despite Swiatek’s dominant head-to-head record, Gauff believes every player has a fair chance and that performance during the week will be key: “It gives you confidence to see that the field isn’t dominated by one or a few players. I think everyone has an equal shot.”
