Defeating Jelena Ostapenko, fifteen-year-old tennis pro Cori Coco Gauff has solidified her place in history as she has become the youngest player since 2004 to win the Women’s Tennis Association title.
GAUFF WINS IN LINZ 🇺🇸🏆
The youngest @WTA finalist in 15 years, @CocoGauff takes it one step further to win the title at just 15 years old.
She defeats Ostapenko 6-3, 1-6, 6-2. pic.twitter.com/OPDXqHvypf— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) October 13, 2019
Upon winning Austria’s Linz Open, Gauff became the youngest player to qualify for Wimbledon. In addition to qualifying for Wimbledon, her trophy, the young athlete took home $43,000 in prize money.
Although her talent speaks volumes on the tennis court, it is the advice from her father that gave the young rising star the strength to win big.
“Just relax, you’re not going to sprint to the finish line,” Gauff’s father and coach told his daughter. “We’re going to walk to the finish line, OK?” In addition, Gauff’s father went on to tell her that it was important, as in everything, to trust her abilities, think positive, and to not let this potentially historic moment mess up her game.
'Take your mind to another place right now'
This was an amazing moment in the final set at @WTALinz
Terrific advice from @CocoGauff's coach and dad with the title within reach#CallMeCoco pic.twitter.com/eGwG6hSKGL
— Eurosport (@eurosport) October 13, 2019
The elder Gauff also encouraged his daughter to “take her mind to another place,” and that is exactly what she did, leading her to a victory.
The Atlanta-native has been playing tennis since she was six-years-old. To date the fifteen-year-old has won over $530,000 in prize money in 2019 alone. We have a feeling that this is just the beginning for Gauff. She is unquestionably on her way to becoming the next generation of tennis royalty.
