Coco Gauff, the rising star of American tennis, has left former world No. 6 Chanda Rubin with a palpable sense of unease as the countdown to the 2025 US Open begins. Following a disappointing exit in the quarter-finals of the Cincinnati Open, where Gauff succumbed to a 6-2, 4-6, 3-6 defeat against world No. 8 Jasmine Paolini, the questions surrounding her readiness for the season’s final Grand Slam have intensified.
In that match, Gauff struggled significantly with her serve, hitting only 54% of her first serves and winning a mere 31% of her second serve points. The 21-year-old American also committed a staggering 16 double faults, a statistic that raises eyebrows and concerns among fans and analysts alike. Despite navigating past players like Wang Xinyu and Lucia Bronzetti to reach the quarter-finals, and even receiving a walkover from Dayana Yastremska, Gauff’s performance against Paolini has left many questioning her mental and technical preparedness.
With her recent defeat, Gauff has slipped from second to third in the WTA Rankings, as Iga Swiatek claimed victory over Paolini in the Cincinnati final. The two-time Grand Slam champion’s earlier struggles in Montreal, where she was stunned 6-1, 6-4 by Victoria Mboko in the last 16, only add to the narrative of a player who is currently in a state of flux.
Speaking candidly on the Tennis Channel, Rubin expressed her concerns regarding Gauff’s mindset as she approaches her home Grand Slam. “Coco Gauff, she won Roland Garros, she made a tough transition onto the grass, she figured kind of, tough turnaround, she had a lot of things going on, she didn’t quite get it going there,” Rubin noted, reflecting on Gauff’s tumultuous journey through the season.
As Gauff enters the hard court swing, Rubin pointed out, “She’s won a few matches, she’s won some matches here [in Cincinnati], didn’t have to play a couple of matches. But I just thought she might be in a bit of a better place.” However, her performance in Cincinnati raised alarms. “We saw it with the double faults, she handles it so beautifully, but we saw her start to get a little bit frayed, get a little irritated, kind of direct it to her team there, so that, for me, would be the only concern,” Rubin added.
The critical question remains: Is Gauff equipped to handle the pressure of tough matches in New York? “Does she have enough matches behind her on the hard courts?” Rubin queried, emphasizing the importance of mental resilience. Yet, amidst the turmoil, there is an undeniable belief in Gauff’s potential. “Certainly, she has that ability, she has the athleticism to turn it on and in New York she gets such incredible energy, I think that’s going to go a long way for her,” Rubin stated, offering a glimmer of hope.
Gauff will be on a quest to secure her second US Open title, having clinched her first major victory in New York in 2023. As the tennis world holds its breath, all eyes will be on Gauff to see if she can rise above the challenges and deliver a performance that echoes her remarkable talent.
