Coco Gauff hit back at Marta Kostyuk’s husband after beating the Ukrainian as the American was the one who got the last laugh.
During the Gauff and Kostyuk Australian Open quarterfinal match, the Ukrainian tennis star’s husband, Heorhii, wore a hat that had “shake your cocos” written on it. Also, the hat featured a coconut broken in half and many deemed the act an attempt to troll the top-ranked American tennis female.
As if this Coco Gauff -Marta Kostyuk match couldn’t get more bizarre, Kostyuk newly made spouse Heorhii with the bizarre “Shake your Cocos” hat.
It’s just funny, nothing more than that. #ausopen pic.twitter.com/gHdGJLVLiC
— Andrew Jerell Jones, Luke 1:37 (IG:twdbk3) (@sluggahjells) January 23, 2024
Although it was a tough day at the office, Gauff avoided a surprise loss and managed to beat Kostyuk 7-6 (6) 6-7 (3) 6-2. After the match, Gauff delivered a dance on the court.
Coco Gauff© Getty Images Sport – Cameron Spencer
Following the match, Gauff posted about it on her Instagram Story and captioned the post: “Shakey shake.” Gauff’s post also included heart and laughing face emojis – a pretty evident clapback at Kostyuk’s husband.
Coco Gauff© Coco Gauff – Instagram
Gauff overcomes Kostyuk but loses to Aryna Sabalenka
After surviving a three-setter against Kostyuk, Gauff exited the Australian Open in the semifinal following a 7-6 (2) 6-4 defeat to defending champion Sabalenka. Gauff, who became a Grand Slam champion after beating Sabalenka in the 2023 US Open final, was on a 12-match winning streak at the Grand Slam level before losing to the Belarusian at Melbourne Park.
After the match, Gauff refused to be negative about the loss. Instead, Gauff was trying to draw positives and she made a very interesting observation by stating that she played better this time than she did during the US Open final in September.
In the first set, Gauff twice recovered from a break down before falling to serve out for the opener in the 12th game. After Sabalenka forced a tie-break, the Belarusian dominated it to win the first set.
Coco Gauff© Getty Images Sport – Graham Denholm
In the second set, Sabalenka broke Gauff in the ninth game for a 5-4 lead before closing out the match in the following game.
“She served better. US Open — I mean, she made less errors, but also, I feel like I played a little bit more aggressive this time. So, you know, US Open I felt like wasn’t, like, a great match, like, for me. Yes, I won. I think I played better tonight,” Gauff said.
“I wish I could have made more first serves. I think that was the difference. She had a higher first-serve percentage, and it’s tough to also go for the second when you double-faulted a couple times.
“But I don’t think that wasn’t the fault, either. Because I put myself in the position, I cleaned up the first set, put myself in the position to serve out the set. At the end of the day, it came down to a couple of points. Same in the second. Maybe if I get that hold at 4-All, it’s a different match.”
Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka© Getty Images Sport – Cameron Spencer
Gauff drawing inspiration from Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova
After accomplishing her dream of becoming a Grand Slam champion at Flushing Meadows, Gauff didn’t hide that she was very determined and motivated to also win the Australian Open and claim back-to-back titles. At the Australian Open, Gauff was playing well as she started the tournament with four straight-set wins before also beating Kostyuk in three sets to reach her first semifinal at Melbourne Park.
While Gauff was able to make a deep Australian Open run and put herself in a good position to win another Grand Slam, in the end it just didn’t happen at Melbourne Park. However, Gauff is not pessimistic about the entire situation. Instead, Gauff pointed out how Williams and Sharapova used to bounce back after tough defeats.
“I think for me the most important thing is to continue that, having fun. Even though tonight I lost, it was still a great competitive match. You know, I watched these matches growing up and, like, watching Serena and watching Sharapova lose, like, these matches. It seems like when you’re in it, it feels like the end of the world. But then when you look at history, they didn’t let one match define their career,” Gauff said.
“I’m not going to let this match — I’m going to dwell on it tonight, but as Brad told me as soon as the match was over, the sun is going to rise tomorrow and you have a new chance to live a good day. Tomorrow, I don’t know, I’m going to try to go to the movies or something, be proud of myself.”
Coco Gauff© Getty Images Sport – Darrian Traynor
Gauff, who will be turning 20 in March, played her last Grand Slam as a teenager at the Australian Open. In late May and early June, Gauff will try to win her first French Open title.
Although the French Open is still far away and starting in four months, there is no doubt that Gauff will be among the top favorites for the title when the tournament kicks off. Gauff has already had notable success at the French Open, making her first Grand Slam final at Roland Garros in 2022 before losing to Iga Swiatek.
After the French Open, Gauff will without any doubt also enter Wimbledon and the US Open with the highest possible goals.
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