Coco Gauff’s rise from adversity in 2024 is undeniable. After winning the ASB Classic, she faced a winless streak until September, sparking criticism. However, a coaching shift to Matt Daly helped her surge in the rankings. Gauff had reflected on her past struggles, saying, “It’s funny because, not too long ago or maybe a couple years ago, I had a really bad stat line where, if I lost the first set, I would lose the match.” She was once labeled as being in a ‘Flop era’, but her father’s words, “‘You’ve got to get some fight in you!’” inspired her to fight back. Her resilience was displayed as she won the China Open and the WTA Finals. Although her 2025 season started with a bang, she hasn’t had the same luck since. But Rick Macci believes we’ll see that magic again!
Gauff’s 2025 season started strong with Team USA’s United Cup victory, but her luck hasn’t held since. She suffered first-round exits in the Middle East swing and a round of 16 loss at Indian Wells. At the Miami Open, she made it to the round of 16 again but lost to unseeded Magda Linette 6-4, 6-4. Gauff committed 12 double faults and struggled with unforced errors, raising doubts about her form.
However, former coach of Venus and Serena Williams, Rick Macci, remains optimistic. He wrote on X, “Coco will be fine. Best pure athlete on the tour. There is a fine line between Winning/ Losing. Everything is magnified over the rainbow when you Lose in sports. Around the corner from problems adversity and Defeat will be a rock solid Coco that will hard to Beat. @CocoGauff” Perhaps Macci is right!
Gauff has shown excellence despite past droughts. She began 2024 by defending her Auckland Classic title, setting a strong tone. Despite mid-year challenges, including a tough summer hard-court season, Gauff rebounded impressively. She reached a career-high ranking of World No.2 in June and secured titles in Beijing and the WTA Finals, defeating top players like Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka.
Coco will be fine. Best pure athlete on the tour. There is a fine line between Winning/ Losing. Everything is magnified over the rainbow when you Lose in sports. Around the corner from problems adversity and Defeat will be a rock solid Coco that will hard to Beat. @CocoGauff
— Rick Macci (@RickMacci) March 25, 2025
Moreover, Macci noted what the 2023 US Open champion needs to improve, tweeting, “The mind controls the body. But what the body has been programmed to do has an effect at times on the mind. She will go to another level as time/insight heals all. She is a champion and a family of champions. I believe BIG TIME in this young lady. The best of Coco is on the horizon,” he wrote in a following post on his X account.
So while she’s out of the Miami Open, with her resilience and power, who knows what the American sensation will bring to the next tournament? Only time will tell! Meanwhile, Coco has her eye on a bigger prize!
Coco gets real about her goals for the 2025 season!
On March 23, Coco Gauff was on fire at the Miami Open, ousting Maria Sakkari in the third round with a convincing 6-4, 6-2 win. This was their second meeting this season, following a similar victory at Indian Wells. When asked about her performance after a stunning double bagel win over Sofia Kenin in the second round, Coco humbly noted, “It’s very rare to get 0-0 back to back. Very rare for it to happen in general. So I was just honestly trying to forget it. I didn’t want to, like, think about it because I’m like this is a one-every-couple-years type occurrence. I was just trying to put that match in the past and focus on today.”
As Coco looked ahead to her future goals, she was clear about her priorities. When asked if she’d rather aim for the No.1 ranking or another Grand Slam, she quickly replied, “Another major.” Explaining her choice, Coco said, “I’ve always said… I don’t know, I feel like people remember you more off majors than the world No. 1 ranking. Obviously, if you could have both, that’s great.”
Futhermore, she emphasized her desire to cement her legacy, adding, “I think for me in my personal, especially with only having one, I would like to have another. Now, if I had like four and I hadn’t reached No. 1, then that maybe would be a different story. But only having one, I would like to have another one just to cement myself even more.”
However, Coco’s Miami Open journey ended abruptly in the round of 16 with a 6-4, 6-4 loss to Magda Linette. Despite this setback, she remains focused on her goals. Will Coco bounce back and claim her first singles title of the season? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
The post “Defeat Will Be a Rock Solid,” Coco Gauff Evaluated by Venus and Serena Williams’ Coach After Crashing Loss at Miami appeared first on EssentiallySports.
