An unlikely source of confidence for Gauff came from Olympian sprinter Noah Lyles. Gauff revealed to ESPN that a conversation with Lyles in the dining room on Sunday morning gave her the boost she needed to make history.
“We were just talking about how when you get to moments like this, you’ve already done all the prep work, and at the end of the day, you’ve just got to be you,” Lyles told ESPN. “Honestly, it flipped a switch. He may have woken me up,” Gauff said. “He’s probably the most confident guy I’ve ever met in my life, honestly. Other than maybe Serena (Williams). So those two are probably the most confident people that just exude confidence.”
That’s exactly what Gauff has demonstrated so far at the Olympics. If a conversation with Lyles continues to inspire straight-set victories, Gauff will gladly keep chatting with him. In the round of 16, Gauff will face 13th seed Donna Vekic of Croatia for the first time, a worthy challenger that will test her resolve.
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