In the fast-paced world of tennis, Coco Gauff, the former US Open champion, recently shed light on the sport’s relentless nature, highlighting the limited time it offers for personal reflection and recovery. As she gears up for her much-anticipated homecoming at the Miami Open, Gauff candidly shared her experiences and insights during a recent interview with the Roland Garros official website.
By mid-March, Gauff has already participated in four tournaments this season, five if you consider the United Cup, attesting to the sport’s demanding schedule. Echoing her grueling journey from last season, the American powerhouse played in 19 tournaments, including the 2024 Paris Olympics, clinching 3 titles, and battling through 71 matches with an impressive win rate of 76% (54-17). Her dedication to the sport is evident in her relentless work ethic.
The 2025 season appears to follow a similar rhythm, with Gauff kick-starting her year at the United Cup, moving on to the AO, the Middle East swing, and most recently, Indian Wells, all before stepping foot in Miami on March 21st.
When questioned about her ability to reflect amidst her packed schedule ahead of the Miami Open, Gauff responded with refreshing honesty. She acknowledged the challenge of self-reflection in the whirlwind of tournaments, training, and travels, and expressed a need to carve out time for this crucial aspect of personal growth.
Being the number one seeded American on the WTA Tour is not just about achieving victories, but also about managing the constant ‘off-court commitments.’ Gauff, for instance, recently teamed up with NB to launch her new Coco Delray collection alongside Joe Robinson, straight off her performance at the BNP Paribas Open.
In addition to her professional duties, the 9-time WTA singles title winner is also eager to pursue her personal passions. Gauff revealed her culinary ambitions back in 2023, sharing images of her cooking lessons. However, the demanding schedule of her tennis career has forced her to postpone these plans.
The Miami Open on March 21st will see Gauff on the courts without having had the chance to reflect on her recent performances. Despite a shaky start to the season, with three consecutive defeats at the Australian Open, Qatar, and Dubai, she remains positive about her form and mindset.
Speaking candidly before the Miami Open, Gauff said, “I’ve had ups and downs. I’m obviously not happy with those past results, but it’s one of those things that, in the history of my career, I’ve had ups and downs.” Gauff, currently ranked World No.3, emphasized that the expectations associated with being a top player can be challenging.
In the Miami Open, Gauff holds a 6-5 record and is yet to progress beyond the 4th round. However, she is set to face Sofia Kenin, the former Happy Slam champion, whom she defeated earlier this year in Melbourne. With their H2H record at 2-2, Gauff looks forward to leveraging her home-court advantage and recent dominance over Kenin. Will she manage to replicate her AO performance against her fellow American? Only time will tell.
