Coco Gauff is at a crucial crossroads in her tennis career, having recently faced a challenging stretch during the North American hard-court season. After a promising title run at the French Open, expectations soared, but Gauff’s journey has been riddled with obstacles. She suffered a shocking first-round exit at Wimbledon, a disappointing third-round finish at the Canadian Open, and a quarter-final loss in Cincinnati. It’s clear that the pressure is mounting, and whispers of an extended break to recalibrate her service motion have started to circulate.
Despite the clamor for her to step back and reassess, Gauff is steadfast in her resolve to “learn on the job.” With the Asia swing on the horizon, she is gearing up for a busy schedule. Recently, she made a bold decision to part ways with her coach, Matt Daly, who played a pivotal role in her triumph at the French Open and the WTA Finals. In his place, Gauff has enlisted the help of biomechanics expert Gavin MacMillan, whose immediate task is to rectify her serving issues—a challenge that cannot be resolved overnight.
Her struggles were painfully evident during the US Open, where emotional turmoil took center stage as Gauff broke down in tears on the court. Ultimately, her hopes were dashed by Naomi Osaka in the fourth round, leading to further discussions about her future. Rennae Stubbs, a seasoned voice in the tennis community, voiced her concerns on the CYA podcast, urging Gauff to take the rest of the year off to dismantle her game and rebuild from the ground up. “Coco’s not comfortable. She’s fighting demons,” Stubbs stated, highlighting the immense pressure Gauff is under.
Yet, Gauff remains undeterred. Following her loss to Osaka, she emphasized her intention to stay active in the remainder of the 2025 season. She plans to engage in a focused training block leading into the Beijing tournament, giving her three weeks to refine her skills. As the defending champion at the China Open, where she triumphed over Karolina Muchova last year, Gauff is set to compete once again, holding onto 1,000 points that are crucial for her ranking.
Following Beijing, the Wuhan Open looms large on her schedule, where Gauff will defend an additional 390 points from her semi-final appearance last year. Her calendar may remain sparse after these events unless she seizes opportunities for late entries into other tournaments like the Japan Open, Pan Pacific Open, or Hong Kong Open.
As Gauff aims to secure her spot in the season-ending WTA Finals in Riyadh, the stakes have never been higher. With only Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek having already qualified, Gauff’s performance in the upcoming tournaments will be pivotal not just for her ranking, but for her overall confidence as she navigates this tumultuous phase of her career. A strong showing in Beijing and Wuhan could alleviate some of the pressure as she heads into the WTA Finals, where she has 1,300 points to defend. The tennis world is watching closely as Gauff battles through adversity, proving that resilience and determination are as crucial as skill on the court.
