Gauff & Federer Shining Together On Manic Monday: 'It's Pretty Cool'
Coco Gauff is unquestionably one of the brightest young stars on the WTA Tour, if not in all of sports. And on Manic Monday at Wimbledon, one of the grandest days in tennis, the American will share centre stage with the likes of eight-time champion Roger Federer.
“Part of the reason I was so nervous in my second-round match on Centre is because I saw he was following me again. Today I wasn’t really nervous going in. I don’t know why I was so nervous in my second round. I do definitely take note,” Gauff said after her third-round win. “It’s pretty cool. I don’t know, I like to think of it as opening up for [him]. Concerts, they have a big artist, then a smaller artist come before them. That’s what I kind of like to think of it as. It’s pretty cool.”
This will be the third consecutive round in which Gauff will play the match on Centre Court right before former World No. 1 Federer. According to the 17-year-old, she has learned plenty from the 39-year-old Swiss.
“Roger, he definitely has a big influence on my mentality on and off the court. He’s always someone that I can go and talk to if I need advice,” Gauff said. “He’s such a class act and someone that I looked up to. It’s super nice that I’m able to open up for him, if that’s the right terminology I use. Hopefully if I can keep opening up for him, we can keep winning [until] the end.”
Coco is continuing to emerge as a huge star throughout the world, much like Roger has throughout his career. But the teen is carving her own path.
“I want to be the best role model that I can be. Me and Roger have completely different personalities. He’s older than me. I’m part of a different generation. I definitely look up to him and want to be like him, but I also want to be myself,” Gauff said. “I don’t think I’m ever going to be the person that he is because he’s Roger, I’m Coco. But definitely I do take part and try to model my behavior after him in the way he is on and off the court.”
Middle Sunday #Wimbledonthing pic.twitter.com/RSveHlv5oU
— Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) July 4, 2021
This will be the last Manic Monday at the grass-court Grand Slam, as there will be play on the tournament’s middle Sunday from next year. Therefore, this will be the last time — barring rain or other extenuating circumstances — that all fourth-round singles matches will be played on the event’s second Monday.
Because of that, some of the best players will be spread throughout the grounds. Men’s second seed Daniil Medvedev will play Miami champion Hubert Hurkacz on No. 2 Court and women’s second seed Aryna Sabalenka will compete on No. 3 Court against 18th seed Elena Rybakina. It promises to be a thrilling day with the best men’s and women’s players in the world shining together on the London lawns.
Federer, who is pursuing a record 21st Grand Slam title this fortnight, took to social media on Sunday to reflect on the final Manic Monday, on which he will play 23rd seed Lorenzo Sonego.
“It’s definitely part of history that there has been no tennis on [the middle] Sunday,” Federer said. “I love this tournament and I love playing here. Can’t wait for tomorrow for my match against Sonego.”