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US Open: Cori Gauff comes out as a fan of Nick Kyrgios

Cori Gauff commented on Nick Kyrgios at the US Open and praised the Australian highly.

by Nikolaus Fink
last edit: Sep 04, 2022, 03:39 pm

Cori Gauff keeps his fingers crossed for Nick Kyrgios
© Getty Images
Cori Gauff keeps his fingers crossed for Nick Kyrgios

In view of the huge hype surrounding Serena Williams, it was almost lost at this year's US Open that the local heroes in New York have also caused a sensation apart from the 23-time Grand Slam winner. With Jessica Pegula, Danielle Collins, Alison Riske-Amritraj and Cori Gauff , four American women are in the round of 16 of the last Grand Slam tournament of the year.

Gauff in particular showed strong performances in Flushing Meadows in the first three games and qualified for the round of 16 without losing a set. On Sunday the 18-year-old meets Shuai Zhang at Arthur Ashe Stadium, but also the subsequent match in the largest tennis stadium in the world should be of the greatest interest to Gauff.

Gauff: Kyrgios can win the US Open

Because, as the teenager emphasized on the sidelines of the US Open, she is a big fan of Nick Kyrgios. The Australian faces Daniil Medvedev in the first match of the night session (from 1:00 a.m. on ServusTV and in the tennisnet live ticker). If Gauff has his way, the world number one does not have to be the end of the line for Kyrgios: "If he keeps going like this, I think he can go far. He can win the tournament."

Gauff developed sympathies for Kyrgios at the age of 13 when the Canberra man took time out for a training session with her. "It's moments like that that people don't really see in him. I think people paint him as a villain. I feel like on the tournament ground - at least in my experience with him - he's not like that," explained Gauff.

Kyrgios gives Gauff confidence

"I think playing with him has helped me in the long term as a player," Gauff continued. "He told me good things about my game. At the time I thought, 'Nick Kyrgios thinks I'm a good player'. That's when you start to believe in it and gain confidence."

Since then, Gauff has been pushing the current world number 25. always fingers crossed - and now hopes that Kyrgios can still fulfill his dream of a Grand Slam triumph: "We all know that he has the ability to do it. He was close in Wimbledon. I always keep my fingers crossed for him , no matter who he's playing against, to be honest."

Here is the women's individual tableau in New York

Here is the men's individual tableau in New York

nycmap

by Nikolaus Fink

Sunday
Sep 04, 2022, 03:40 pm
last edit: Sep 04, 2022, 03:39 pm