Post by : Rohit Dhiman

Coco Gauff's campaign at the US Open 2026 ended with disappointment, but the American tennis star believes the changes she has made to her game are beginning to produce results. The 22-year-old lost to Elena Rybakina 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the semifinal in New York on Thursday. Despite the defeat, Gauff said she was encouraged by the way she competed throughout most of the tournament and believes the experience will help her continue developing as a player. Gauff said she felt she had played most of her matches on her own terms. She acknowledged that she struggled to maintain that approach during the quarterfinal, but was pleased that she was able to correct those issues quickly.

American Star Focuses on Long-Term Improvement

Rather than allowing the semifinal loss to overshadow her recent progress, Gauff said she wants to concentrate on continuing to work on her game. The former champion expressed confidence that the changes she has introduced can help her become a more consistent player over the coming seasons. Gauff said she is looking forward to continuing her work over the next year and beyond while assessing how far her game can develop as she gets older. Her comments underline a longer-term approach to improvement rather than focusing exclusively on individual tournament results.

Rybakina Edges Key Moments

Gauff's opponent, Elena Rybakina, maintained pressure throughout the semifinal and managed to make the difference when important points arrived. Although Gauff won the opening set, Rybakina responded strongly in the second and third sets. The Kazakh player eventually completed a 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 comeback to reach the final. Gauff acknowledged that the match was closely contested and believed the result was influenced by a small number of service games. She said she felt she had played well overall but was unable to hold serve in crucial moments across the final two sets.

Gauff's Strong Summer Continues

Despite her US Open semifinal defeat, Gauff has enjoyed an impressive run over the past several months. The American reached the semifinals at Wimbledon for the first time, won the Cincinnati tournament and also reached the last four in Toronto before making another deep run at the US Open. Those results have given Gauff several important opportunities to compete against the world's leading players and test the changes she has been making to her game. Her recent performances suggest she remains firmly among the leading players on the women's tour.

Former US Open Champion Wants More

Gauff won the US Open title in 2023, securing her first Grand Slam singles championship at the age of 19. Her latest appearance in New York again demonstrated her ability to make a deep run at one of the sport's biggest tournaments. However, Gauff made clear that reaching the latter stages is not enough for her. She wants to become a more consistent contender and give herself regular opportunities to compete for major titles. She acknowledged that the latest defeat was painful, even while recognising the progress she has made during the season.

Read Also: Rybakina Avoids Pressure Ahead of US Open Final Against Sabalenka

Why Did Coco Gauff Lose the US Open Semifinal?

Coco Gauff lost the semifinal after winning the opening set. Elena Rybakina responded by taking the next two sets 6-4, 6-4 and remained effective during crucial service games.

#world news #Global News #Sports News #Asia News