Coco Gauff, the world’s third-ranked tennis player, is not succumbing to the hysteria surrounding her recent back-to-back losses at the Doha and Dubai tournaments. During her pre-tournament press conference at Indian Wells, Gauff sought to put things into perspective, emphasizing that her recent defeats were not cataclysmic.
Despite entering as a contender for the titles, Gauff’s performance in the initial two WTA 1000 tournaments of the year in the Middle East did not meet expectations. The 2023 US Open champion met her downfall in her inaugural Doha match against Marta Kostyuk, followed by a swift exit from Dubai at the hands of the rising American star, McCartney Kessler, after a single match.
These losses, along with a quarterfinal defeat at the Australian Open to Paula Badosa, mark a sudden downturn in Gauff’s performance, who had an impressive nine-match winning streak at the start of 2025 and had finished the previous year on a high note with two victories at the WTA Finals.
Addressing the growing concern around her recent performance, Gauff stated, “I don’t understand why everyone is making a big fuss. I lost two matches, and I’m going to lose more in the future – it’s inevitable.” Gauff went on to dismiss the notion that her career is in a slump, asserting, “Okay, we’ve been through this. I’ll bounce back.”
She further clarified that while it may seem like a long time, it’s merely two tournaments. She remains optimistic about her future opportunities and acknowledges that she cannot win every match. Gauff expressed her anticipation of encountering similar situations in her career, hoping it does not become a frequent occurrence.
As the No. 3 seed in Indian Wells, Gauff has a first-round bye and is set to face either Emma Raducanu or Moyuka Uchijima. Gauff, who reached her first Indian Wells semifinal last year, is eager to make a strong comeback this week. “You know the results will come. It’s just normal, I think,” she added.
The upcoming tournament offers Gauff a chance to flip the script and regain her winning momentum. Her resilience in the face of adversity and her unwavering belief in her abilities are clear indicators that this young tennis phenom is far from finished.