Coco Gauff, the world’s third-ranked female tennis player, is making headlines once again. This time, not for her pursuit of the coveted World No.1 ranking, but for her laser-focused ambition to win Grand Slam titles. At a recent press conference, the 21-year-old American prodigy confirmed that while the top spot is desirable, her priorities lie elsewhere.
Gauff’s 2025 season has been a mixed bag. Her journey across the various tournaments in the Middle East and Down Under was fraught with early exits. Even her performance in the Californian desert fell short of expectations. However, the Miami Open, where she won consecutive matches, signaled a turnaround.
The highlight of her recent performance was a straight-sets victory over Maria Sakkari, a formidable opponent, in the third round of the Miami Open. This follows her success over the Greek professional player a week prior in Indian Wells, demonstrating a promising consistency in her game.
When probed on her spectacular double bagel win against Sofia Kennin in the second round, Gauff responded with humility and focus. She stated that such occurrences were rare and that she chose to leave it in the past to concentrate on her future matches.
The conversation then turned to her future aspirations. When given a choice between the No.1 ranking or winning another Grand Slam, Gauff, the 2023 US Open champion, did not hesitate to pick the latter. She reasoned that Grand Slam victories tend to resonate more with audiences than a world No.1 ranking, though she admitted that having both would be fantastic.
Gauff’s ambition doesn’t stop at winning just any Grand Slam. The young American has her sights set on the French Open, a tournament that has eluded her since she turned professional. Despite reaching the final in 2022, Gauff was denied her maiden Slam by former World No.1, Iga Swiatek. The pair faced off again in 2023’s edition, with Swiatek prevailing in the quarterfinals before defending her trophy in the final.
Reflecting on her past performances against Swiatek, Gauff acknowledged her formidable opponent’s skills, especially on clay courts. However, she remains optimistic about her own abilities and is determined to best Swiatek in future Roland Garros matches.
As we approach the 2025 French Open, all eyes are on Coco Gauff. Will she be able to end Swiatek’s reign and claim her second Grand Slam title? Only time will tell. However, one thing is certain: Gauff’s unwavering ambition and sheer determination have set the stage for a thrilling season of women’s tennis.
