By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Tuesday September 6, 2022

By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Tuesday, September 6, 2022

Flushing Meadows, NY—Coco Gauff’s Grand Slam season ended in a disappointing loss to Caroline Garcia on Tuesday night in New York, but the 18-year-old phenom is proud of her performance at the US Open, and she can certainly take a lot from a season that saw her reach the final at Roland-Garros and the quarterfinals this week in Flushing Meadows.



“I mean, for me today her level was great. I knew it was going to be great coming in. I feel I didn't play at the level I needed to to come out with the win today,” Gauff said. “Overall I'm super proud of myself on this tournament. But I'm hungry for more. So maybe next year.”

Gauff was bidding to become the youngest woman to reach the last four at the US Open since Serena Williams in 1999, and will rise to the Top 10 in next week’s ranking for the first time.

There’s a lot to like about her achievements.

And considering that she came to Queens this year after injuring her ankle in Cincinnati, she came a long way to produce a career-best performance.

“For me it's hard to balance being proud and being disappointed,” she said. So I think I'm learning more to not be so much disappointed in myself.

“Really I'm just proud of how I was able to come through this week. After everything that happened in Cincinnati, I didn't tell anyone, but I didn't think it was going to be that good of a tournament for me. I think it was good I was able to bounce back. I really proved to myself mentally that I can come out of these tough situations and do it.

“First quarterfinal, too, at the US Open, so there's a lot to be proud of. But, like I said, definitely disappointed. I think it makes me want to work even harder. I feel like I know what I have to do.”