Coco Gauff namedrops Emma Raducanu as US Open star left crying on court

Coco Gauff namechecked Emma Raducanu as she shared what she had learned since bursting onto the scene as a 15-year-old qualifier at Wimbledon, all the way back in 2019. Now, Gauff is the world No. 3 and a two-time Grand Slam champion, and she's looking to lift her third Major trophy at the US Open.

The 21-year-old had a difficult experience during her second-round match on Thursday night. She cried during the match and in her on-court interview. But she learned from the experience and returned to the court with a new perspective two days later.

Gauff said she "didn't want that to happen again" and produced a much better performance to beat Magdalena Frech 6-3 6-1. She's been headlining matches on Arthur Ashe Stadium for six years, but the American is still learning.

The two-time Major winner has now reflected on how much she has taken in since she had her breakthrough as a teenager, and she felt she could relate to something Raducanu - who also won her first Grand Slam title as a teenager - once said.

"Yeah. I think honestly, yeah, when you're 15, I always tell younger players that, like, the first time it's very fresh and new, and so you feel just excited for every opportunity," the world No. 3 later explained.

"Then you start to do more interviews, and you start to be aware of what's going on. I think Emma said this in an interview, like, aware of the negativity. You kind of get into that into your head with it.

"But for me I think I've been learning and have learned to just remember to stay on my path, and the only expectations I have are the ones that I have of myself. When I'm out there and I have those moments, it's just me being authentically myself and who I am.

"Is that how I want to show up all the time? No, but I think for me it's just a learning experience and showing people the ups and downs.

"I have been on this tour since I was 15, and I think I've done pretty well with the mental side of things.

"There are moments I wish I could show up better, but you know, when they happen, I think I just try to get up and be a better version of myself. Well, sometimes the next point, not even the next day."

Gauff will hope to keep growing when she takes on Naomi Osaka in a blockbuster fourth-round match. Arguably one of the best learning experiences of her young career came when she faced Osaka here in 2019.

Weeks after her breakthrough at Wimbledon, Gauff was left in tears after suffering a bruising 6-3 6-0 defeat. But Osaka encouraged the teenager to address the crowd, and asked her to join the on-court interview.

A few months later, Gauff stunned Osaka at the 2020 Australian Open, where the Japanese star was defending the title. Now, Osaka says she sees the world No. 3 as a "little sister".

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