- Coco Gauff emerged victorious in her first match of the 2023 US Open, defeating Laura Siegemund from Germany with a score of 3-6, 6-2, 6-4.
- During the match, Gauff expressed frustration towards her opponent’s time-wasting tactics.
- After the match, former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama commended the 19-year-old player for speaking out against her opponent’s actions.
Coco Gauff displayed her frustration after her opponent’s controversial delay tactics prolonged her first match of the 2023 US Open, lasting nearly 3 hours.
However, just before sharing her grievances during a media session late Monday night, she received an unexpected visit from former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama, which greatly lifted her spirits.
AP Photo/Frank Franklin II
“I actually just met them right before I came in here, so my mood is a little bit nicer,” Gauff shared during her post-match press conference. “Maybe I’m saying nicer things than I actually planned to, so that lightened my mood.”
She added, “I went from being really upset after a win to being really happy, so I’m glad I got to meet them. And they gave me some good advice, too.”
Gauff fought back from a set behind to defeat Germany’s Laura Siegemund 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 in the renowned Arthur Ashe Stadium of New York City. However, throughout the match, the 19-year-old American grew increasingly irritated by Siegemund’s deliberate time-wasting strategies.
Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Siegemund consistently used up the entire 25 seconds on the shot clock before serving, even going over the time limit since the first set, according to Gauff. Despite seeking intervention from the chair umpire, nothing was done to address the issue.
The world’s sixth-ranked female tennis player attempted to remain patient throughout the match. However, as the pace of play slowed significantly in the crucial third set and the crowd started to notice Siegemund’s deliberate delays, Gauff decided to take action.
“On her serve, even though you’re supposed to be on time, I was being nice,” Gauff explained. “My team told me I should have spoken up earlier. But then it got to the point where she was doing it a lot on my serve.”
“I was like, ‘She has to be ready when I’m serving,'” she emphasized.
Coco Gauff expressed her frustration to the chair umpire after she thought her opponent, Laura Siegemund, was slow to get ready for her serves several times. Follow Google News
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