Coco Gauff found strength in learning from every loss she encountered rather than dwelling on them, reflecting upon a difficult exit in the fourth round of 2023 AO. Utilizing that setback as motivation, Gauff quickly recovered, winning both Grand Slams (US Open and Australian Open) as well as her first WTA 1000 title at Cincinnati within months. In 2024 she claimed a WTA Finals win while reaching career high ranking becoming highest paid female athlete ever! Despite facing challenges this year such as serve issues which affected her game further; Gauff remains committed to working through these issues while improving upon it further developing it further!
Gauff began 2025 on an excellent note, helping Team USA claim victory at the United Cup and winning nine out of her initial ten matches in Australia. Unfortunately, however, her momentum faltered with losses at major tournaments forcing her to confront challenges head on – however her resilience shone through during clay season play in Europe where she displayed promising performance right up until quarterfinals stage.
In a genuine expression of her current struggles, particularly with her serve, Gauff has committed herself to work on improving this aspect of her game. “Changes don’t yield immediate results. I’m focusing on enhancing my serve and return. Finding the right timing is difficult, but it’s about accepting the process and knowing that improvement will come with time,” Gauff shared during a discussion about her approach to overcoming her serving issues.
Gauff’s determination is evident as she prepares for the French Open, understanding the importance of addressing the weaknesses in her serve that have contributed to a concerning number of double faults. Despite these challenges, her love for the clay courts remains undiminished, hopeful for a return to form in the upcoming Grand Slam events.
“Any week can be a turnaround,” says Coco Gauff on the Eve of the Madrid Masters
Gauff’s mental development and maturity is evidenced in her recognition of high standards she sets herself, while still understanding their unattainable nature. With Madrid Masters around the corner, she hopes to rediscover her best form after an inconsistent first part of 2019. “Striving for perfection comes with its ups and downs – I have learned confidence comes from anywhere other than winning matches – meaning things could turn around at any moment,” according to Gauff as evidence of optimism regarding future prospects.
Gauff has experienced success against formidable clay opponents before and is looking forward to an impressive clay season, possibly reinvigorating her year and setting the foundation for another deep run at Roland-Garros. However, many questions still exist as regards what lies in store for this talented young athlete?