(Dubai) The American Coco Gauff estimated Monday that tennis should take inspiration from basketball and organize mixed duels in specialized competitions, based on the model of that between Stephen Curry and Sabrina Ionescu organized on Saturday on the sidelines of the All-Star Match. the NBA.
In Indianapolis, Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry challenged and beat American Sabrina Ionescu, New York Liberty and Team USA gunner, 29-26, in a three-point duel, the first ever shooting competition between men and women.
This unprecedented challenge, organized between the best 3-point scorer in NBA history against the holder of the WNBA 3-point basket record in a single season, inspired Coco Gauff, who is participating this week in the WTA 1000 tournament in Dubai.
Facing journalists, the 19-year-old American, victorious at the 2023 US Open, declared that she “would like to see Serena Williams and Nick Kyrgios compete in a services competition”.
According to her, “Ons (Jabeur) and Carlos (Alcaraz) would also be interesting opponents. There might be a challenge,” she added.
Gauff took the opportunity to praise Ionescu’s performance against Curry, whom she considers “the best 3-point shooter”, and she hailed an “excellent” matchup. She also hoped that this type of competition would be repeated in the future. “It allows many men in the world to remain humble,” she said.
Eliminated from entry in Doha, Qatar last week, Coco Gauff will start the Dubai tournament as seeded N.3, against the Italian Elisabetta Cocciaretto on Tuesday.
She will look to return to the form that allowed her to start the season with a title in Auckland and reach the semi-finals of the Australian Open where she lost to eventual tournament winner Aryna Sabalenka.