Coco Gauff remains upbeat about her career trajectory despite falling short of winning a second grand slam title in her final major as a teen.
The American world No.4 was bested in a tight 7-6 (7-2) 6-4 Australian Open semi-final loss to title-holder Aryna Sabalenka on Thursday night, a replay of last year's US Open final which Gauff won in three sets.
Although the result was reversed, Gauff believes she produced a better performance than at Flushing Meadows four months ago.
"I played better tonight," the 19-year-old said.
"I wish I could have made more first serves. I think that was the difference.
"She had a higher first-serve percentage, and it's tough to also go for the second when you double-faulted a couple times."
Gauff was making her last grand-slam appearance as a teenager, with her 20th birthday coming before the French Open rolls around in May.
With the 2023 US Open title and a 2022 Roland Garros runner-up finish under her belt, the Florida native is pleased with how she has fared in her teen era.
"I am really proud of myself," said Gauff.
"I did want to win a slam as a teenager, and I did that.
"Obviously today I was hoping to get number two, or at least give myself a chance to get number two. It didn't happen, but I feel like I'm there. So hopefully I can go only upwards from here."
She was also gunning to register a 50th slam win before turning 20, hoping to join Mary Joe Fernandez (57), Tracy Austin (56) and Jennifer Capriati (50) as the only American teenagers to do so.
Gauff fell one win shy of the rare milestone but said being in company with 23-time major winner Serena Williams, who also finished with 49 grand-slam victories as a teen, gave her confidence she was on the right path.
"I just feel like I look at the glass half-empty, so I'm negative," she said.
"Then I looked at that stat and I'm like 'they had great careers'. So I'm like 'I'm going in the right direction'.
"I just have to remind myself of the journey and not so much of the moment."
While she admits she's prone to being hard on herself, Gauff said she wouldn't let the loss define her career and reflected on sage post-match advice from coach Brad Gilbert.
"I watched these matches growing up," she said.
"Watching Serena and watching (Maria) Sharapova lose these matches, it seems like when you're in it, it feels like the end of the world. But then when you look at history, they didn't let one match define their career.
"I'm not going to let this match. I'm going to dwell on it tonight but as Brad told me, as soon as the match was over, the sun is going to rise tomorrow and you have a new chance to live a good day."
Improving her win-loss record with Gauff to 3-4, world No.2 Sabalenka hailed Gauff as an "incredible player" and alluded to their burgeoning rivalry.
"Win or lose, it's great matches," the 25-year-old Belarusian said.
"I really hope that in the future we are going to play many more finals, and hopefully I'm going to win all of them."
