Coco Gauff, the acclaimed third seed, is making her grand entrance at Indian Wells with a determination to rejuvenate her season and take the spotlight in what she has humorously dubbed her ‘paradise of competition’. Indian Wells is indeed an oasis for tennis lovers, with its balmy daytime sunshine and chilly desert nights. An occasional drizzle might interrupt the first two weeks of March, but no other venue rivals its unique charm. However, Gauff envisions a different kind of tennis paradise entirely.
Indian Wells Tennis Garden holds a prominent status in the tennis world. It boasts the second-largest outdoor tennis stadium worldwide, the 16,100-seated Stadium 1, and the equally impressive 8,000-seated Stadium 2. Spanning 54 acres, this tennis haven offers a one-of-a-kind experience with 29 regulation hard courts, a plush member lounge, and world-class fitness and locker room facilities. It is more than just a venue, hosting a ‘bewildering array of sports and entertainment events’, including the BNP Paribas Open: the largest professional tennis tournament for both men and women globally.
However, Gauff’s dream event would diverge from this, possibly surpassing even the BNP Paribas. The 20-year-old recently revealed her vision for an ideal tournament: a fusion of intense competition and a vibrant local atmosphere that would elevate tennis from a mere sport to an engrossing event.
Gauff, who recently made waves at the Oscars, shared her dream tournament concept with Brody from Broadcast Boys. The 2023 US Open champion envisioned a high-energy, star-studded event unlike any other. She proposed Atlanta as the venue, with Zendaya being the ultimate courtside celebrity. She suggested ‘Childish Gambino’s’ music to set the mood, and striking ‘purple and black’ courts. The competition stakes would be astronomical, with a grand prize of $10 million.
Gauff’s tournament would bear an apt name for the occasion: “The Hot Girl Slam”. It would be a fast-paced, 3-day event starting from the quarterfinals, with doubles included. The colorful ‘Tyler, the Creator’ would serve as the commentator, ensuring the tournament is as exciting off the court as it is on it.
Alongside Gauff, top-seed Aryna Sabalenka also shared her idea of a tennis paradise during the interview. She humorously proposed a staggering $8 billion prize pool for her dream tournament in the California desert, a proposal that would send shockwaves through the tennis world.
As Gauff gears up for another exhilarating showdown at the BNP Paribas Open, her true test may be on home ground, where the tournament is more than just another tour stop; it could serve as her redemption after an underwhelming season.
Despite her recent poor form on the WTA Tour and three consecutive straight-set losses, Gauff remains optimistic. Her slump began with a quarterfinal loss to Paula Badosa at the AO, followed by defeats to Marta Kostyuk at the Qatar Open (6-2, 7-5) and McCartney Kessler at the Dubai Open (6-4, 7-5). This is starkly different from her stellar performance in late 2024 when she won both the China Open and the WTA Finals. Despite these setbacks, Gauff stays focused and primed to reignite her prowess in the Californian sun.
In a pre-match press conference, Gauff shared, “I don’t know, everybody makes a bigger deal than what it is… I lost two matches. I’ll lose more matches back to back, it’s going to happen. To me, for me I guess it feels like a month but it’s just two tournaments, and at this calendar, I have so many other opportunities, and I can’t win every match. Hopefully, it doesn’t happen too many times in my career. You know the results will come. It’s, you know, just normal, I think.”
After her victory over British player Emma Raducanu, Gauff is set to face off against Japanese player Moyuka Uchijima in her second match. Will she take home the title? Only time will tell.