"I feel like things can’t get worse" - Coco Gauff opens up about 'relaxed' approach to Wimbledon 2024 campaign despite 1R exit in 2023

Coco Gauff recently opened up about having a 'relaxed' approach and mindset heading into the 2024 Wimbledon Championships despite having an early exit in the first round in 2023. Last year, Gauff faced a surprising defeat at the hands of qualifier Sofia Kenin.

For this year's grasscourt Major, Gauff is seeded second and will kick off her singles campaign against fellow American Caroline Dolehide. She will also be competing in the doubles alongside her close friend and compatriot Jessica Pegula. Their first-round match will be against the Ukrainian pair of Anhelina Kalinina and Dayana Yastremska.

Recently while talking to the press ahead of her Wimbledon campaign, Coco Gauff discussed her upcoming participation in the grasscourt Major and the 2024 Paris Olympics that will follow. She mentioned that she will not be playing any preparatory tournaments before the Olympics due to competing in back-to-back "big" tournaments.

“After this tournament I’m not going to play any warm-up events for the Olympics. In a way it’s like you do two big tournaments in a row, which nobody, unless they’ve played the Olympics, has done before. It’s something unique. Looking ahead to Wimbledon, everything’s fine, it’s a normal part of our schedule; it’s going to be interesting to see how we feel at a tournament as big as the Games,” Gauff said (via Punto de Break).

Reflecting on her performance at Wimbledon last year where she fell to Sofia Kenin 4-6, 6-4, 2-6 in the first round, Gauff stated that she is feeling "relaxed" heading into this year's Championships. She believes that since she did not have a successful tournament last year, the only way to go is up or remain the same.

“I’ve been trying to adopt an attitude and a mentality of trying to enjoy these experiences, you only experience your first Games once. I’m very relaxed heading into Wimbledon, I didn’t have a good tournament here last year, so I feel like things can’t get worse, they can only get better or stay the same (laughs),” she added.

Coco Gauff on her first round loss at Wimbledon 2023: "That experience taught me that bad times don't last forever"

Coco Gauff

Talking about her first round exit from the 2023 Wimbledon Championships, Coco Gauff stated that the loss was a "tough" one for her. She admitted that in the weeks following the match, she found herself in a difficult emotional state and a "dark place"

“I wish the me from that game a year ago could see myself now. It was a tough time for me. The first two or three weeks after that game, I was in a really dark place. It was hard to realize that I still had so much time. I've grown so much,” Gauff said (via Punto de Break).

The World No.2 said that the first round loss to Sofia Kenin served as a turning point for her as it taught her that tough times are temporary. Gauff, then went on to have one of her most successful seasons following the defeat, claiming titles at the 2023 Citi Open, Cincinnati Open, and securing her first Grand Slam title at the US Open.

“I'm glad I used that time to get better, and I still know I'm not even halfway to where I can be. That experience taught me that bad times don't last forever. It was a tough time, but it was followed by the best part of any season I've ever had. That teaches you that bad times don't last forever,” she added

Apart from her disappointing singles performance at the 2023 Wimbledon Championships, Coco Gauff and her partner Jessica Pegula reached the third round in the doubles event. Their campaign ended after losing to Laura Siegemund and Vera Zvonareva 6-3, 6-3.