When you’re on your way up it’s all an adventure...but when you get tothe topyouhaveitalltolose
in a generation a new talent comes along in tennis who just wows with their skill, determination and promise. That’s what 15-year-old newcomer Coco Gauff is doing at Wimbledon.
As if defeating five-time champion Venus Williams in her opening match wasn’t impressive enough, the teenager conjured the comeback of the tournament on Friday to beat Polona Hercog and reach the fourth round against all the odds. What impresses me most is her composure and focus. When she took on Venus you could see she was there to win. Often when young players face a big name in major events they freeze like rabbits in the headlights because the occasion and the opponent feels so much bigger than them, and they don’t believe they can get through.
The world really is Coco’s oyster now, but nothing is guaranteed. The signs would suggest she has the game, the discipline and the fighting spirit to do damage and have a great career, but you never know.
When you’re on the way up it’s all an adventure with everything to gain. But it’s a very different experience when you get to the top and have everything to lose.
Then there are all the demands and distractions of being in the public eye, with the media interest, expectation, sponsors and fans to service, watching what you say, what you do, what you wear, your every move on and off court being picked over. Your life is no longer your own because everyone wants a piece of you.
Naomi Osaka who, at the age of 21, has already won two Grand Slams, bombed in the first round then had to face the press. When you lose like that it’s tough enough, but to then face a grilling – and that’s especially tough for girls because most journalists in the room are men – you feel as though you’re under attack.
So it’s not hard to understand why it can go wrong for a young player full of potential.
What Coco needs is a small team of sensible people around her to help manage the pressure, prepare her and insulate her as much as possible to allow her to play freely and have some balance in her life. She’s a teen after all. There has to be some fun, too.
It was great to see Andy back in the mix – and the mixed – at Wimbledon. Winning the doubles at Queen’s gave him enormous joy and confidence and, by teaming up with Serena Williams, he gave tennis fans a real treat.
After a couple of knock-backs he was joking with the press he was getting a bit tight about asking anyone else.
That opened the floodgates.
But when Serena came forward that really made it a special pairing. She has always said she is a huge fan of Andy’s because of how he sticks up for women.
There aren’t many opportunities to play or watch mixed doubles. It only happens in the Grand Slams and Olympics now but it’s hugely popular with players and fans.
I hope tennis authorities take note and consider adding it to a few more events on the tour.