Gauff Says 'No Regrets' After Wimbledon Semi-Final Heartbreak vs Muchova

Gauff’s Wimbledon run ends in tiebreak defeat to Muchova

Karolina Muchova beat Coco Gauff in three sets to reach her first Wimbledon final. Gauff said she was not dwelling on the match point loss.

'I left it all out there' says Gauff as she has no regrets after match point loss to Muchova...

A moment of hesitation and a forehand into the net on match point ended Coco Gauff’s hopes of a first Wimbledon final against Karolina Muchova on Thursday. But the American said she had no regrets over the shot she chose.

The seventh seed led 9-8 in the 10-point match tiebreak and was one point from her first grass-court Slam final. She missed a drop shot though, and Muchova took the win 6-2, 1-6, 7-6(10).

 

“Yes, people who don't ‌watch tennis are going to be like, 'why did you do that?' At the end of the day, ‌that's the choice I made. Was it the right one in that moment? Maybe ‌not,” Gauff told reporters.

“But then also, if I make it, everyone's going to say how clutch of a shot that was. I think that's just tennis,” she said.

She said she didn’t expect the bounce.

“I just panicked a little bit. It ⁠just takes moments like this to learn from, ‌have more of a clear, concise plan of what I want to do,” Gauff added.

“At the end of the day, I left it all out there. My only regret - or I don't have any regrets - is just obviously points I want to make better decisions on. But that's how you learn and become a better player.”

Gauff pointed out she’s not the first to lose from match point up in a big match, mentioning Federer’s defeat to Djokovic in the 2019 Wimbledon final and Sinner’s French Open final loss to Alcaraz last year.

“I'm going to think about it tonight. I don't know if I've ever lost a match after having match point. If I have, I don't remember the last time. I don't know ‌how long it'll take me,” Gauff said.

“I don't think that long. There were a lot of emotions right after the match. Now I'm just like, one decision away; maybe I'm sitting in this press conference in a different mood.

“I look at Roger's lost match points here, Jannik obviously at Roland Garros. Every great champion has this happen in their career. Maybe this is something I need to be on their level.”

The 22-year-old said she found plenty to be encouraged by in her campaign despite losing, but was unsure if she would tune in for Saturday’s all-Czech final between Muchova and Noskova.

“We'll see. When I ‌get home, if I'm up, I might have it on. I'm one that stings a little bit, especially so close; I don't want to watch,” Gauff said.

“Also, at the same ‌time, I'm a fan of tennis. The girls who are left, it's going to be a great match. Obviously Karolina is great... maybe I'll watch; maybe I won't.”

The disappointment didn’t stop Gauff from pushing back against the social media backlash she anticipates.

“I probably already got some hate comments (from bettors),” she added.

“It's okay. It makes ⁠you stronger ... it's the usual. It sucks, but ⁠it's like, 'whatever. I'll be on the ‌winning end next time', and I'll be sure to tag them.”