Rafael Nadal legacy about 'more than his wins', says Coco Gauff after reaching Wuhan Open semis against Aryna Sabalenka
Updated 11/10/2024 at 12:41 GMT+1
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Coco Gauff continued her quest for back-to-back WTA 1000 titles as she reached the semi-finals of the Wuhan Open. The 2023 US Open champion beat Madga Linette in straight sets to advance into the last four, where she faces Aryna Sabalenka. Afterwards Gauff spoke about her admiration for tennis legend Rafael Nadal, who is set to retire from the sport after the Davis Cup Finals in November.
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Coco Gauff paid tribute to retiring Rafael Nadal after reaching the Wuhan Open semi-finals, saying “how he treated me as a fan is something I remember more than his wins”.
Nadal has announced that he is set to retire from tennis following the Davis Cup Finals in November.
The 22-time Grand Slam winner will step away from the sport as one of the most-decorated players in history, but for Gauff his legacy is about more than the trophies.
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"It's one thing to have the on-court achievements, but I think [about] how you treat people off the court, how you treat people, fans," said Gauff.
"Obviously, I'm a fan of him. I know we're technically like coworkers, but I'm a fan. How he treated me as a fan is something I remember more than his wins, more than the things he did. I would like my legacy to look like that.
"You can win the amount of trophies and everything, but people remember who you are and how you made them feel. That's how I try to remind myself when I'm doing fan interactions or with anybody, to leave a nice impression because I know how that goes a long way.
"I just felt things he would do, he went out of his way."
Gauff also said Nadal was her “favourite person” to watch practice.
"The intensity that he brought on the practice court and obviously on the match court is something that I felt like watching is unmatched.
"Watching the video, a bit emotional because Rafa is all I've known growing up. Pretty sure he's won Roland-Garros for, like, the majority of my life.
"I remember he congratulated me last year for reaching the Roland-Garros final. I did a somersault because I couldn't believe he was talking to me.
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"Actually, I don't think I posted the picture, but we traded pins at the Olympics, which is the one thing I wanted to do. He was super nice with that. We were both waiting on the shuttle. It was the last shuttle of the day, like 11pm I asked him if I could have one of his pins. He gave me one.
"Carlos [Alcaraz] was there, too, but Carlos didn't have any pins. I only took the picture with Rafa there. I was like, 'Carlos, you can't be in it because you didn't give me a pin,'" she joked.
"Yeah, just something like that I'll remember. And something I'll definitely tell my kids because it meant a lot to me."
Gauff TO FACE SABALENKA IN SEMIS
A “very happy” Gauff won her ninth match in a row as she reached the last four in Wuhan.
Gauff needed just an hour and 24 minutes to beat Madga Linette 6-0 6-4.
Linette had beaten two top-15 seeds to reach her first WTA 1000 quarter-final, but never looked like causing an upset against Gauff.
"I'm really happy with how I played," said Gauff, who is looking for back-to-back WTA 1000 wins following victory at the China Open.
"Obviously a smooth first set. Had chances to maybe close it out in the 5-3 game in the second, but happy I was able to close it out on my serve."
Gauff’s performance was not flawless as she served eight double faults in the match.
However, she saved all five break points she faced, and from 3-2 down in the second set won 12 of 14 points to take control.
Gauff next faces top seed Aryna Sabalenka, who cruised past Magdalena Frech 6-2 6-2.
Sabalenka, who is aiming to win Wuhan for the third time in a row, fired 42 winners as she won in one hour and 23 minutes.
Gauff leads the head-to-head 4-3 against Sabalenka, but it was the Belarusian who won their last meeting in the Australian Open semi-finals.
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