World-renowned tennis prodigy, Coco Gauff is candidly opening up about her recent form, following an unexpected exit in the fourth round of the Indian Wells tournament. Previously riding high on a three-match victorious streak, Gauff, currently the world’s No.3, has been unable to advance beyond the quarter-finals in regular singles events.
The turning point for Gauff came during her face-off with Belinda Bencic, where she found herself on the back foot despite leading 40-0 at 4-4 in the final set. The fallout from this match has led Gauff to introspect, as she acknowledges her performance was not up to her usual par.
It is important to remember that Gauff ended 2024 with a bang, clinching the WTA Finals, and began the new season on a promising note at the United Cup team event. Her performance played a pivotal role in leading the American team to victory, even overcoming Iga Swiatek in the process.
However, Gauff’s winning streak did not translate into success in major singles tournaments. Her journey in the Australian Open ended at the quarter-finals, followed by back-to-back early exits in Doha and Dubai. Although Gauff managed to break her losing streak in Indian Wells with victories over Moyuka Uchijima and Maria Sakkari, she was eventually toppled by Bencic, resulting in a 3-6 6-3 6-4 defeat.
When questioned about her recent “slump” in 2025, Gauff offered a balanced perspective, stating, “I mean, overall I feel it’s not as bad as it seems.” She admitted that her Middle East tour was not fruitful and recognized her lackluster performance at Indian Wells, where she lost in the fourth round to a tough opponent.
Despite being knocked down by top players in good form, Gauff expressed her desire to improve her performance. She emphasized not to be too hard on herself and remained committed to enhancing her game. “I’m trying to do better, and that’s all I can do. I’m trying to work on things in practice, and unfortunately right now it’s not translating how I’d like to.”
A key issue that Gauff has been grappling with is her second serve. Despite working on it off-court, the changes have not yet manifested in her match performance. Gauff acknowledged the importance of being more aggressive with her serve, especially when she is leading in the game.
Bencic later pinpointed the 4-4 game in the final set as a “turning point” and believed that Gauff was “tense” despite being in the lead. She observed that Gauff’s confidence seemed to waver, providing her an opportunity to target Gauff’s forehand.
As Gauff continues to work on her game and address her challenges, her journey serves as a testament to the pressures and highs and lows of professional tennis. As fans and critics watch her next move, Gauff remains a beacon of young talent in the world of tennis, reminding us that fortitude and resilience are just as important as skill and technique in the game.
