Coco Gauff embraces “weird” veteran role after dismissing teenaged opponent in Auckland

The reigning US Open champion, born in 2004, is aiming to win the title in Auckland for a second straight year, but the 19-year-old is still typically the younger opponent in most matches. With Fruhvirtova three years younger, Gauff embraced the role of grizzled veteran with aplomb on Thursday, dropping just three games to reach the quarterfinals.

“It’s definitely a weird thing, a little bit now,” Gauff said in press after the match, listing just three other opponents she can recall beign younger than her. “I told myself today: ‘As much more time passes, you have to get used to playing people younger than you.’

“As I get older, it’ll definitely be less of a thought in my mind.”

Gauff improved to an impressive 6-0 against younger opponents, having beaten the likes of Robin Montgomery, Linda Noskova, and Mirra Andreeva in 2022 and 2023 before taking on Fruhvirtova to start the 2024 season. The teenager, who will turn 20 in March, goes way back with Fruhvirtova and her older sister, Linda, having practiced together at the Patrick Mouratoglou Academy when they were younger.

"I've known her since she was about 10 years old," Gauff said during her on-court interview. "We used to be in France training at the same academy with Patrick Mouratoglou. With me, her, and her sister, we grew up training beside each other, so it's great to see her on tour, and I'm sure she's going to go even further than here."

Gauff will be back in familiar territory when she takes on 23-year-old Varvara Gracheva on Friday, aiming to win an eighth straight match in Auckland.