Coco Gauff-Caroline Wozniacki US Open match will be battle of generations
Coco Gauff was starting to make a name for herself in tennis a little more than three years ago, just as Caroline Wozniacki bid adieu to the sport to start a family of her own.
The possibility of these two, who have bookended two generations of female tennis players, meeting on the same court were nonexistent.
Until now, that is.
Wozniacki came out of retirement in June and two months later, the Dane has made a captivating run to the fourth round of the U.S. Open.
She will face the 19-year-old Gauff for the first time on tennis’ biggest stage on Sunday afternoon at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Playing in the round of 16 might be unexpected for the 33-year-old Wozniacki, who is competing in just her third tournament and first Grand Slam since she had two children.
Gauff, however, came to Flushing Meadows with significant momentum behind her, and the World No. 6 has won 14 of her last 15 matches.
Still, Gauff acknowledged that she’s about to face a player she described as a legend.
That’s a mental obstacle in itself.
“I don’t think she’s going to give me anything,” Gauff said of Wozniacki. “She’s obviously one of those players that was a great mover when she played. She got a lot of balls back, so I’m expecting long rallies. Also I’ve watched her last couple matches this week. I think she’s playing a little bit more aggressive, I guess, compared to when she was starting, before she won Australia. I think she played that tournament really well.
“Yeah, it’s not going to be an easy matchup. I think she probably knows my game pretty well. I don’t know if she commentated on any of my matches. I know she’s watched tennis even when she was retired. So I’m sure she knows my game just from watching.”
The 14-year age difference between the two could be a deciding factor, though Wozniacki has looked a lot more limber than some of her younger opponents so far this tournament.
Both players have a stronger backhand than forehand, but Gauff probably has a more threatening serve when she’s on.
Wozniacki is certainly capable of frustrating Gauff and forcing the young American into committing more errors, which is probably her best bet at winning the match.
Wozniacki, a two-time U.S. Open finalist, has raved about how at home she feels on the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center grounds.
That has come through in her play.
She has lost just one set so far, in her third-round win over American Jennifer Brady on Friday.
Though she was squaring off with a U.S. player, Wozniacki had the Arthur Ashe crowd rooting for her and her Cinderella comeback story.
That likely won’t be the case when Gauff, the U.S. Open’s darling, takes the other side of the court.
It should hardly matter to Wozniacki, who has shown an unwavering belief in herself amid this new era in her career.
“I think if you’d asked me as a kid growing up and said that I would have done this, I would have said, ‘No way,’ ” Wozniacki said when it was pointed out to her that she has advanced to this round of the U.S. Open in three different decades. “To have the longevity, to be able to come back after having children, also to get far into this tournament so young, it’s just something I’m very proud of and something that I don’t take for granted.
“I think when you’re young, you always look into the future. You have hopes and dreams for what your career is going to look like.
“For me, coming back now, I don’t know how long I’m going to play. I get that question all the time. Am I going to play one year? Am I going to play five years? I have no idea. All I know right now is that I’m really enjoying this moment.
“To be able to play on these big courts in front of a big crowd, it’s something very special and something that I will never take for granted, something I’ll always appreciate.”
