Coco Gauff targets 10 Grand Slam titles ahead of Australian Open bid

American teenager Coco Gauff has already set her sights on becoming a 10-time Grand Slam winner as she prepares to battle at the Australian.

Gauff, 19, secured her first major title last September when she defeated Aryna Sabalenka in New York to secure the US Open.

And Gauff started the new campaign in style when she successfully defended her Auckland Classic title after beating Elina Svitolina 6-7, 6-3, 6-3.

It means she heads to Melbourne Park in confident mood and will be one of the favourites ahead of the season's opening Grand Slam – and is dreaming big for what lies ahead in a pro career that has already seen her win seven WTA titles.

“I would say recently I feel like I wanted to get double-digits. That's cool,” said Gauff who is behind only world No 1 Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka in the rankings.

“I don't know if it will happen, but I think that's a high goal. I think setting my goals high pushes me beyond what I think I can do.”

Gauff's only previous major final appearance had seen her crushed by Swiatek in the 2022 French Open, so victory at Flushing Meadows in front of her home fans was all the sweeter.

“During the off-season we did celebrate a little bit just because after the US Open everything was so fast,” added Gauff, who plays Anna Karolina Schmiedlova in the first round.

“Now, going into another Slam, it really feels like so long ago. Some players' goal is to win a Grand Slam. Once they reach that, it's kind of what's next.

3 - With victory in Auckland, Cori Gauff is the third teenager in the past decade to successfully defend a WTA title after Leylah Fernandez (Monterrey 2021-22) and Gauff's opponent, Elina Svitolina (Baku 2013-14). Symmetry.#ASBClassic | @ASB_Classic @CocoGauff @WTA @WTA_insider