After battling a tumultuous start to the season, Coco Gauff is back in action on her home turf at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, eager to reclaim her winning stride. Her current track record for the season stands at 6-5, and although she hasn’t yet surpassed the tournament’s fourth round, her sights are set firmly on dominating the sports arena, home to the NFL’s Miami Dolphins. However, Gauff is not just about tennis, she’s been letting her imagination run wild off the court as well, transitioning from designing her perfect “Tennis Paradise” during the BNP Paribas Open to whimsically crafting her personal “WTA Love Island” squad. So, who’s in Gauff’s dream team for this island getaway?
The popular Instagram page “Overtime Tennis” recently shared an animated video featuring their host engaging with Gauff in a lively chat. When asked which WTA players she would choose for her own Love Island, Gauff enthusiastically listed Paula Badosa, Aryna Sabalenka, Jasmine Paolini, Danielle Collins, and her close friend Jessica Pegula. For those unfamiliar with the concept, Love Island is a hit reality TV show where contestants participate in multiple challenges with various partners, continuously swapping until they hopefully find their perfect match.
Coming into 2025, Gauff’s journey has seen its share of highs and lows. She kicked off the year on a positive note, securing a United Cup win with Team USA. However, maintaining the momentum from her triumphant close to 2024 at the WTA Finals has proven challenging, with early exits marking her journey. Setbacks included a quarterfinal defeat to Paula Badosa at the Australian Open and subsequent losses to Marta Kostyuk and McCartney Kessler at the Qatar Open and Dubai Tennis Championships respectively. Now, stationed in Miami for the Sunshine Double’s second leg, Gauff is ready to reclaim her stronghold.
March has been a whirlwind for 21-year-old Gauff, marked by both her birthday celebrations and the unveiling of her latest signature sneaker with NB. The new “Coco Delray” is a perfect blend of casual play and off-court style, building on her previous “Coco CG2” model. A powerful campaign, voiced by her grandmother Yvonne Lee Odom, a pioneer in the integration of Delray Beach public schools, accompanied the launch.
Besides her on-court endeavors and product launches, Gauff also took time to reflect on the grueling nature of professional tennis, describing it as a “crazy sport” due to its relentless schedule and continuous tournaments.
The year has only just begun, and Gauff has already participated in five events, including the United Cup. The previous season was just as taxing, with Gauff competing in 19 tournaments, including the 2024 Paris Olympics, and clinching three titles. Despite the demanding schedule, Gauff managed to pull through 71 matches, ending the season with a commendable win rate of 76% (54-17). This year seems to be following a similar pattern.
Before stepping onto Miami’s courts on March 21st, Gauff had already tackled the rigorous Australian Open, the Middle East swing, and Indian Wells, racking up ten matches. As she gears up for her Miami campaign, Gauff candidly acknowledged the hectic nature of the sport but expressed satisfaction with her career progression so far.
With her rivalry with Sofia Kenin evenly balanced at two victories each, it remains to be seen whether Gauff can replicate her Australian Open success and kickstart a victorious campaign at the Miami Open.