Coco Gauff offers advice to Maya Joint ahead of Wimbledon clash with Serena Williams
Coco Gauff has offered Maya Joint a psychological strategy ahead of the Australian teenager’s daunting first-round Wimbledon encounter with Serena Williams, reports BritPanorama.
The American, ranked seventh in the world, suggests that Joint should avoid glancing at the scoreboard during their match at the Championships. Gauff believes that seeing the opponent’s name can amplify the pressure of the moment.
“When I was in that position, I didn’t look at the scoreboard the whole match. I did not want to see Venus’ name,” Gauff explained. “No matter how much you try to block it out, I feel like once you see the name, it makes everything seem real.”
Gauff’s advice arises from her own experience at the All England Club seven years ago, when as a 15-year-old, she defeated Venus Williams using the same mental approach. The now 22-year-old maintained focus by deliberately keeping her eyes away from the scoreboard throughout that memorable contest, which she believes prevented her from feeling overwhelmed by facing a tennis legend.
“Maybe don’t look at the scoreboard,” Gauff advised. “Also you have to go in with the belief you can win and expect that they’re going to play great tennis now.” This suggestion is particularly pertinent for Joint, who is preparing for a high-profile encounter against Williams, who has been absent from competitive tennis for several years, leaving little recent footage for the young Australian to study.
“It’s different. We haven’t seen Serena play in many years, so there’s not really much of a scouting report you can go off of,” Gauff noted, underscoring that Joint must enter the match with self-assurance. This will mark Williams’ return to singles action at a major for the first time since the 2022 US Open.
Anticipation builds as Gauff expects the match to take place on Centre Court or Court 1, which adds further pressure for Joint. Gauff acknowledges the significant influence the Williams sisters have had on her tennis journey, grateful for the inspiration they’ve provided in her pursuit of the sport. “I played the sport because of them, believed that I could do things because of them. I look up to them a lot,” Gauff stated.
As both competitors prepare for the monumental clash, it becomes evident that their match is not merely about points and strategies, but a meeting of legacies. The resonance of past encounters lingers in the air, a reminder that in the world of sports, the lines between admiration and rivalry are often beautifully blurred.
