Despite a recent slump in form, Coco Gauff remains a celebrated athlete in the realm of women’s tennis. Her prowess on the court and potential for greatness have been recognized by key figures in the sport, including former professionals. Serena Williams’s childhood coach, Rick Macci, placed his bet on Gauff last month, stating, “Coco has untapped potential and can get to number one and most of all stay there.”
Last season, Gauff was on a roll, clinching the WTA Finals and the United Cup for America in January. However, the Australian Open proved to be a hurdle as she bowed out in the quarterfinals. Subsequent early exits in the Middle East swing have raised concerns over her form. Despite these setbacks, many in the tennis community, including Macci, believe Gauff is destined for the top spot in world rankings.
Gauff’s recent performance at the Qatar Open, where she failed to move past the first round, was indeed disappointing. She was eliminated by Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk with a score of 6-2, 7-5. Her performance didn’t improve at the Dubai Tennis Championships either, where she was edged out by compatriot McCartney Kessler in the R32 with a score of 6-4, 7-5. However, Andrea Petkovic, a former WTA pro and German player, firmly believes Gauff is still the “best”.
The next stop for Gauff is the Indian Wells. Historically, this has been a tough ground for her. She has previously struggled to make her mark at this event, crashing out in the first round in 2022 against Simona Halep and losing to current World number 1, Aryna Sabalenka, in the quarterfinals in 2023. However, Gauff showed a marked improvement in her performance last season, making a dominating run to the semifinals. This impressive performance is still fresh in the memory of Andrea Petkovic.
Reflecting on Gauff’s performance at the 2024 Indian Wells on the Tennis Channel Live podcast, Petkovic noted, “She is, in my opinion, the best athlete we’ve ever had on a tennis court on the women’s side, period.”
While Gauff may not be in top form right now, she remains determined to silence her critics at the Indian Wells. The 20-year-old has ambitious plans for the 2025 season, one of them being to claim the No.1 spot in the WTA rankings.
In a recent press conference, Gauff said, “I think just improving and seeing where it goes. For me, the points thing is just, first of all, too mathematical. I don’t know how people come up with all these different scenarios.” Speaking about her ambitions, she revealed, “I think I just focus on trying to win, and you know the ranking comes with it, so just trying to do my best to win, and obviously, the goal would be to be No. 1, that would be awesome.”
As Gauff gears up for the BNP Paribas Open, fans will be pleased to know that she has received a bye in the opening round and will start her campaign directly in the second round. The identity of her opponent remains uncertain, but regardless, Gauff is set to bring her A-game to the court, hoping to replicate her Riyadh performance from last season. With sights set on her 10th WTA singles title at Indian Wells, Gauff is a force to be reckoned with, despite recent setbacks.