Coco Gauff looks to carry last year’s momentum into Australian Open

It’s the first Grand Slam tournament of the year as the season gets underway Down Under in Melbourne, Australia, kicking off with the 2024 Australian Open. It begins Sunday, Jan. 14, and runs through to Sunday, Jan. 28, with all the action from the tournament broadcast live on ESPN. The wait is finally over for tennis fans and players alike, with fan-favorites Aryna Sabalenka and Novak Djokovic headlining the tournament and looking to defend their rankings. But, some may argue that no one has more hype surrounding their name going into this season than rising superstar Coco Gauff. Last season saw the American-born player reaching new heights as Gauff won her first singles major of her career, winning the U.S. Open and defeating world No. 1-ranked Sabalenka, catapulting her to a career-high ranking of No. 3 in the world. Going into this season, expectations will naturally keep on rising. However, coming off a season that required perseverance, grit and determination, Gauff seemed more poised and better equipped than ever to handle all that’s expected to come in the tournament and the season. Having solidified herself at the top of the rankings, the 19-year-old reflected on some of the trials and tribulations of last season in an Instagram post. “I saw my darkest and brightest days of my life this year. I probably grew enough for 10 lifetimes between January and now lol. I usually don’t say this but I am learning to be nicer to myself haha (I get questioned all the time by family, press and y’all for not saying this) but yes I AM proud of myself,” Gauff wrote. “I am proud of the resilience showed. They really tried to count me out but it is all in God’s plan and His timing.” Hoping to carry over some of her momentum from last season, look for Coco Gauff to be in her best form as she looks to win her second singles major and first Grand Slam of the season at the 2024 Australian Open when it kicks off Sunday, Jan. 14, live on ESPN.