Let’s take a deep dive into Coco Gauff’s Indian Wells journey from last year! Playing her best tennis as the tournament progressed, she dominated her Belgian opponent Elise Mertens 6-0, 6-2 to book her spot in the QF. In a lighthearted moment on “Tennis Channel”, she was surprised with her first 20th birthday cake, excitedly saying, “I’ve been waiting for that all day,” Fast forward to 2025, and the mood is different. Just a day before her 21st birthday, Gauff suffered a shocking exit from the Sunshine Double. But instead of silence, she dropped a cryptic tease that has fans buzzing. However, what did she say, though?
Entering this year’s Indian Wells as the third seed, the former US Open champion Coco Gauff kicked off her campaign in the 2nd round after a first-round bye. In a closely contested match, the American player overcame Moyuka Uchijima 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (4), subsequently exhibiting enhanced skill to defeat the 29th seed, Maria Sakkari, (7-6(1), 6-2) in a rematch of last year’s semi-final.
However, the third seed’s run came to a shocking halt in the 4th round yesterday, falling to wild card Belinda Bencic, who recently made waves after winning the Abu Dhabi Open in a hard-fought 6-3, 3-6, 4-6 battle. And, despite the disappointment, Gauff kept her spirits high. When asked about her 21st birthday plans, she revealed she’ll be celebrating with the people who matter most: her family.
Speaking at the post-match press conference after the Indian Wells exit, Coco added, “Yeah, I don’t know. I mean, I don’t know if I’m going to feel any different. But, yeah, I think it’s an exciting age to turn. Usually I don’t really care, I guess, when my birthday is, but I am excited, and obviously I would have loved to be out here tomorrow. But I’m going to try to either get home tonight or tomorrow just to celebrate with my family,”
Even before her Indian Open exit, Coco Gauff had already shared her “low-key” birthday plans at the recently concluded Australian Open. Remember when she cruised into the third round with a 6-3, 7-5 win over Jodie Burrage? Post-match, the spotlight briefly shifted from tennis to her upcoming milestone: turning 21 in less than 2 months!
For many Americans, 21 is a formidable age, marking the legal drinking milestone among adults. Naturally, the reporter asked about her big plans, but Coco’s response wasn’t what anyone expected though. Instead of wild celebrations, her answer left everyone pleasantly surprised in the court.
Coco Gauff *** Coco Gauff Copyright: xJuergenxHasenkopfx
“Um, I don’t know,” Coco said with a laugh. “I’ll be at Indian Wells [BNP Paribas Open]. I’m not really, like, a huge party person. I love escape rooms, so I’ll probably want to do an escape room. Yeah, I don’t know…maybe have a drink with my parents. I don’t know, probably not during the tournament,” she added back then at the Melbourn Major. As the third seed shared her response, the camera panned to the stands, capturing a heartwarming moment, her mother, Candi Gauff, watching on with a radiant smile, beaming with pride at her daughter that time.
As Coco Gauff heads home to celebrate her 21st birthday, the third seed now faces a crucial moment of reflection. Her 2025 season has been far from ideal, despite showing flashes of promise following her strong finish at last year’s ‘WTA Finals’ in Riyadh.
“It’s not as bad as it seems,” Coco Gauff reflecting on her exit at the Indian Wells
The current 3rd seed, who recently launched her new shoe with NB, ended 2024 at the peak of her powers, capturing the ‘WTA 1000’ title in Beijing and securing her first ‘WTA Finals’ crown in Riyadh. With a new coach and a fierce determination to refine her serve and forehand, the 9-time WTA singles winner entered 2025 on a mission. Her campaign kicked off dominantly, taking down Iga Swiatek and going 5-0 at the United Cup, instantly positioning herself as a top contender for the AO.
But if Coco’s six years on tour have taught us anything, it’s that her journey is one of highs and lows. No winning streak or slump lasts forever, something true for all but the likes of the great Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, and even Serena. Even the strongest players battle fluctuations in confidence across an 11-month grind in the center court. And now, after her BNP Paribas Open exit, Gauff reflects on her recent form, shedding light on the challenges she’s facing on the court lately.
Speaking at the press conference, Coco added, “I mean, overall I feel like, I mean, it’s not as bad as it seems, I guess. I mean, start of the year, I did well at United Cup and lost to Paula fourth round in Australia. Middle East wasn’t a great swing for me. Obviously I wanted to do better, want to have better results, but it’s not something I can crush myself on. I’m trying to do better, and that’s all I can do,”
Next up, the American ace sets her sights on the Miami Open, where she’ll be determined to flip the script and make a deep run in front of her home crowd again. But before the battle begins, there’s only one thing left to say: Happy Birthday, Coco! Enjoy your special day!
The post Turning 21, Coco Gauff Sparks Birthday Buzz With a Cryptic Tease After a Shocking Exit From Indian Wells appeared first on EssentiallySports.
