After reaching the US Open final, 19-year-old Coco Gauff channeled Kobe Bryant’s well-known Mamba Mentality. Gauff defeated Karolina Muchova 6-4, 7-5 on Thursday to advance to her first US Open final. After the Los Angeles Lakers went 2-0 up on the Orlando Sorcery in the 2009 NBA Finals, late NBA legend Bryant sat with a virus face in his public interview and gruffly said: ” Gauff is one victory away from becoming a Grand Slam champion, but she also emphasized that the work is not done.
“Thank you so much guys. Some of those points it was so loud. I don’t know if my ears are gonna be okay. But be even louder. I grew up watching this tournament. It means a lot to be in the final. The job is not done,” Gauff said in her on-court interview.
Gauff on channeling Bryant’s Mamba mentality
Bryant was one of the greatest NBA players. He tragically died in a helicopter accident in January of 2020.
Bryant was all about hard work throughout his career, and that attitude helped him win five NBA titles. He has an amazing attitude. In the NBA Finals when they have a 3-1 lead in the series, he doesn’t celebrate. He is content.
He gives himself a high-five. In any case, time to continue on. That’s the way I think. I’m trying to take it all in. However, I also know I still have work to do. The victory in the final is remarkable. But it’s something I’m not happy with yet,” Gauff said in her press conference following the match.
In the US Open last, Gauff plays against Aryna Sabalenka. Last year, Gauff was beaten by Iga Swiatek in her most memorable Huge homerun last at the French Open. In her second Grand Slam final, Gauff’s chances of winning are still up in the air.