Coco Gauff reveals how Zhang Shuai comforted her during tough time – ‘I love her. She deserves…see more

Coco Gauff reveals how Zhang Shuai comforted her during tough time – ‘I love her. She deserves everything’

The second-longest losing streak in WTA Tour history has come to an end and no one is more delighted to see Zhang Shuai return to winning ways than Coco Gauff.

“‘Don’t worry Coco. You will win a Grand Slam’,” was Zhang’s message to Gauff when the American went through a difficult period and the Chinese star’s inspirational words turned out to be prophetic.

Now just over a year later Gauff has revealed how Zhang’s comments were comforting as she praised the Chinese player for never losing faith despite her own difficulties.

Shortly after Gauff lost in the quarter-final of the 2023 French Open, Zhang was on hand to comfort the American. At the time Zhang was not having much luck on the WTA Tour as she was in the midst of a losing streak as she hadn’t won a match since February 2023.

That particular streak went on and on and on, but the losing run stopped at 24 as she won her opening match against McCartney Kessler at the China Open.

Only one player had lost more matches on the WTA and that was Madeleine Pegel as she had a 29-match losing streak from 1968 to 1972.

The 35-year-old Zhang admitted that she wanted one more win before calling it a day, telling WTA Insider: “It was like before when I lost the first round at the Grand Slams all the time.

“So I thought I have to challenge myself, but I am not young anymore. So I don’t have so many chances. I don’t have that many tournaments. I need a little bit better draw. I need at least one more win in my life.”

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And she got that win as she defeated Kessler 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-1).

Her victory was music to the ears of 2023 US Open champion Gauff.

“It was tough to see her going through the streak, but honestly through it all you would have never noticed she was going through that. I’ve seen her literally five minutes after matches and she would still say hi to me and be so excited to see me, which, I’m not like that after I lose,” Gauff told WTA Insider.

“That just shows the type of person she is. I’ve learned a lot from her.”

The world No 6 went on to reveal how Zhang gave her a pep talk following her Roland Garros exit last year with the Chinese star’s prediction turning out to be spot on as Gauff won the US Open later in the year.

“She said ‘Don’t worry Coco. You will win a Grand Slam. I have so much belief in you. I would bet my life on it’,” she said. “And then I won US Open!

“I never told her that, but it stuck with me for a long time, just that she had that belief in me. I think every player on tour likes her so it’s so great to see her win. I love her. She deserves everything.”