Malinda Words: Coco 'Quotes' Gauff!

['The Morning Inspection' is the title of a column I wrote for the Daily News from 2009 to 2011, one article a day, Monday through Saturday. This is the 219th article in the new series that began in December 2022. Links to previous articles are given below]

I remembered Roberto Benigni when I listened to Coco Gauff’s post-match comments after winning the US Open tennis title defeating soon-to-be World No 1 the 25 year old Belorussian Aryana Sabalenka 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 on Saturday the 9th of September, 2023.

Benigni, the Italian actor, comedian, screenwriter and director, made one of the most memorable acceptance speeches at the Oscars in 1999. He had just received the award for the Best International Feature Film for ‘Life is Beautiful,’ and had made quite a powerful speech in which he thanked his parents thus: ‘I would like to thank my parents, in Vergaio, in a little village in Italy. They gave me their biggest gift, their poverty, and I want to thank [them] for the lesson of my life. Really, but thank you, Mamma and Babbo.’ Then it was announced that he had won the award for the Best Leading Actor for his portrayal of Guido Orefice.

It was poetic, dramatic and absolutely entertaining, but what I remembered, listening to Coco, was how he started his acceptance speech.

‘Thank you! This is a terrible mistake because I used up all my English. I don’t know! I am not able to express all my gratitude, because now, my body is in tumult because it is a colossal moment of joy so everything is really in a way that I cannot express. I would like to be Jupiter! And kidnap everybody and lie down in the firmament making love to everybody, because I don't know how to express.’

There’s more, but that’s not relevant here. I felt that Coco had exhausted quotable quotes in her post-match interview. There were so many and all of them were great. She’s just 19 years old but she’s not someone who rose from obscurity to win a title. Since she turned professional at the age of 14, she’s got better, more composed and developed a healthy and mature understanding of the game. That’s what expert commentators say. Barring injury, she’s bound for greatness. That could mean (and many would wish this for her) more titles, including Grand Slam wins.

‘What will she say next time?’ That’s the question that came to mind. I dismissed it quickly because it is clear that Coco is not just a highly gifted tennis player willing to put in the hard yards, she’s quite intelligent and extremely articulate.

She’s come a long way from her third round loss to Naomi Osaka in 2019 (3-6, 0-6) when she was reduced to tears. On that occasion, defending champion Naomi comforted Coco and invited her for a joint on-court interview, which of course Coco remembered and referred to when told that Naomi was in the stands watching her beat Karolina Muchova in the semi-final this year. In addition to the success, she's found perspective along the way.

There were tears this time around too. Tears of joy, maybe disbelief, relief...who can tell? Coco recovered composure. She talked about perspective.

‘At first I used to think negative things, like, “Why is there so much pressure, why is this so hard?” I realize in a way it's pressure but it's not. I mean, there are people struggling to feed their families, people who don't know where their next meal is going to come from, people who have to pay their bills. That's real pressure, that's real hardship, that's real life.’

Recognition of privilege is arguably necessary to cultivate humility and indicates that it is not possible or fair to blame anyone else for failure. She said more, but let’s leave it here.

Coco also spoke about those who did not believe in her, those who said that she had got to as far as she can go. This had motivated her, Coco said.

‘I've tried my best to carry this with grace and I've been doing my best. So honestly, to those who thought they were putting water on my fire, you were really adding gas to it. And now I'm really burning so bright right now.’

Turning water into fuel, burning bright like a star! Coco must have got hold of some magical formula.

It’s her first major title. She’s young. Strong. Determined. And has learned some important fundamentals about life, about the inevitable trials of tribulations and how to deal with them. I can’t remember what Serena William (clearly the greatest ever as of now) said when she won her first major title, that too the US Open in 1999 at the age of 17. Comparisons will be made, not of what they each said and will say before and after key matches, but how they have expressed themselves on the court.

Coco is young and in the early days of her career. She has words and a way with words. That will remain and become more potent. This is not the moment to predict greatness on the court. It is a moment to celebrate and wish her well. And add, ‘keep those quotes coming, Coco; they are fun, insightful and could inspire others who are yet to step on the court.'

13 September 2023

Coco 'Quotes' Gauff!

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