Former WTA player Annabel Croft has admitted she feels “really sad” watching Coco Gauff as she thinks the American is currently “burdened by the pressure and expectation.”

Croft, who reached a career-high WTA ranking of world No 24, thinks the pressure of Gauff’s upcoming US Open title defence has been “building for quite a few months.”

Gauff‘s results this season have been far from disappointing overall: she holds a healthy 36-14 record and is ranked third in the world.

The 20-year-old started 2024 by winning her only title of the campaign so far in Auckland and has reached semi-finals at four big tournaments: the Australian Open, Indian Wells, the Italian Open, and the French Open.

The American star has, however, endured a challenging period since her run to the last four at Roland Garros.

Gauff exited Wimbledon at the fourth round stage having been considered a serious title contender and strong favourite to reach the final from an open bottom half of the draw.

WTA News

The 3 women to win Cincinnati and US Open in same season: Can Aryna Sabalenka become No 4?

WTA Rankings: Aryna Sabalenka back at No 2, Paula Badosa +9, Taylor Townsend secures top 50 milestone

She then lost in the third round at the Olympics to Donna Vekic and the third round of the Canadian Open to Diana Shnaider.

In her last event, Gauff saw her Cincinnati Open title defence end in her opening match as she was upset by Yulia Putintseva.

The American will next try to defend her US Open crown and she will arrive in New York on a run of four defeats in seven matches.

Gauff’s only tournament win since her maiden Grand Slam triumph a year ago was her Auckland WTA 250 title in January.

Speaking on Sky Sports following Gauff’s early exit in Cincinnati, Croft shared her thoughts on the US Open champion’s recent struggles.

“I feel really sad watching her at the moment, because I’m such a huge fan of her tennis and the way she’s gone about her business,” said the former British No 1.

“I think she’s such a great communicator, not just in the world of tennis, the way she communicates to fans outside the sport. She brings people to the sport.

“She’s struggling. This is the biggest time, coming up to try to defend that US Open title. I feel like every time I watch her now, she looks a little bit burdened by the pressure and expectation.

“What happened at Wimbledon, where the forehand really sort of went to pieces and broke down. And when you watch her play now, there’s kind of an expression on her face that looks worried. She just doesn’t look like she’s really enjoying her tennis.

“I feel like that sort of pressure has been building for quite a few months actually. I’m sure it’s been looming over her, coming back to the US Open.

“It’s always going to be pressured for anyone who’s going to try and to defend a big Grand Slam, her first Grand Slam title. But I just feel like she’s struggling with it all and she’s probably overthinking everything on the court at the moment.

“And when you have slight technicality frailty, fragility in your game, I think that becomes heightened when you’re under your most extreme pressure.”

READ NEXT: Iga Swiatek criticised for using ‘bad habit’ tactic to disrupt opponents by tennis legend