Experts pick out reasons behind Coco Gauff’s recent struggles

The American has suffered early exits at recent tournaments

Things haven’t gone to plan for Coco Gauff in recent months, as her performances on the grass have people wondering what’s behind the American’s slump.

Since winning the doubles title at the French Open earlier this year, the 20-year-old hasn’t been able to get past the early rounds at several tournaments.

It’s a far cry from the finals, which is where fans and pundits believe Gauff should be competing. At Wimbledon Gauff fell to Emma Navarro, while at the Olympics she couldn’t get past Donna Vekic, a woman ranked 21 spots below her.

Those struggles continued at the Canadian Open, where she bowed out in the third round, while Gauff recently lost in the round of 32 in Cincinnati against world No. 34 Yulia Putintseva.

Factors playing into Gauff’s struggles
The topic of Gauff’s struggles was brought up on Tennis Channel, with John Wertheim being asked about what might be behind the poor play.

“I don’t know if it is her game or just sort of her mental approach,” he stated.”I think you say to her listen you are not defending a US Open title those points are gone.

“You are trying to create. You are trying to start something. You are trying to start building. Last year she had so much momentum going into New York. Very little now. Fortunes can change quickly in the sport.

“We have seen it with Coco, sort of good and bad. But yeah 16 of the last 18 points that is not how you want to go out before you go and defend the One major you have won.”

Former pro Monica Puig also weighed in on the matter, stating: “For Coco, this is the first time she is defending three big titles back to back. Maybe that is affecting her mental space.

“This is something that she has to deal with and she is young and I’m glad she is learning these lessons now rather than later.”