Coco Gauff wrapped up her 2024 campaign following an early exit at the WTA Finals, where she narrowly missed the semifinals due to set-percentage tiebreakers, reported The Associated Press.
Despite winning two of her three matches, the world No. 4 was eliminated after a complex round-robin scenario, ending her year with a victory over Marta Kostyuk.
Reflecting on her performance, Gauff noted, “I didn’t want to be sad walking off the court,” as reported by the AP.
The 22-year-old earned over $7 million in prize money this season, reaching semifinals at both Wimbledon and the U.S. Open.
Gauff acknowledged that while she improved her grass-court play, she still desires a Grand Slam title, stating, “Anytime for me that I don’t have a Slam title in the season, it’s always going to be more to be desired.”
Her season was also marked by significant off-court challenges, including intense online harassment during the China Open.
Following a mid-match controversy regarding a flickering electronic board, Gauff faced a wave of racist comments and accusations of cheating, noted the Associated Press.
The abuse was so severe that the United Nations’ human rights office issued a statement calling for solidarity against such vitriol, according to the UN.
To maintain her mental well-being, Gauff has begun prioritizing breaks from the rigorous tour schedule.
Looking forward, the athlete plans to integrate health-tracking technology into her routine and will participate in the Billie Jean King Cup playoffs.
She is also set to become a player-owner for a Florida-based World Team Tennis franchise, the Associated Press reported.
Gauff remains optimistic about her future, concluding, “The more I put myself in those semis and finals positions, I have faith that I’ll take more titles.”