A rip-roaring run was cut short in the quarterfinals! World No. 3 Coco Gauff’s electrifying journey at the recently concluded Australian Open concluded last week as she fell short in the QF against Spaniard Paula Badosa. This marked their seventh head-to-head encounter, which was evenly poised at 3-3 following the player’s victory at the China Open. Will she, however, allow the setback to unduly influence her? Not a chance! The reigning 2024 WTA Finals champion is currently making the most of her time in her hometown, Florida, before stepping back onto center court again. But what’s keeping her busy there?
Gauff started her AO journey in style this time, riding high on the momentum of her WTA Finals victory in Riyadh. She effortlessly navigated her first three rounds in straight sets, captivating fans with her stunning Australian Open outfits. In the fourth round, despite dropping the first set against Belinda Bencic (7-5), she roared back to claim the next two, securing her spot in the QF.
There, she faced 11th seed Spaniard Paula Badosa, but things didn’t go as planned. Even though Coco had triumphed over Badosa in the Beijing SF just a couple of months ago, this time, the Spaniard had the upper hand. The American bowed out of the competition after a straight-set defeat 7-5, 6-4. However, the 2023 US Open champion isn’t dwelling on the setback! She’s making the most of her time at home, in Florida, unwinding with a fun-filled ‘TopGolf’ night.
Just a couple of hours ago, Coco Gauff’s childhood friend, Jamilah Nicole, shared a picture of their fun-filled ‘TopGolf’ night on her Instagram story. And guess what? Coco, wasting no time, reposting the same image with a simple yet exciting caption: “”, embracing the golf vibes! But that’s not all!
Yesterday, Coco’s mom, Candi, took to Instagram to share a series of snapshots from their family outing at the South Florida Fair. She even quoted, “South Florida Fair on $2 Tuesdays, free parking, and selected items for $2,” while Coco was seen sharing food with younger brother Cameron.
So it’s clear that the entire Gauff family is making the most of their time in Florida, soaking in every moment of fun and relaxation, a much-needed one for the 2022 Roland-Garros finalist. However, Coco, being so mature at 20, knows that elimination is a part of any sport. That’s why she shared her remarks about going forward in the 2025 season as she provided an inspiring response after the AO exit.
‘I have to be aggressive,’ Coco Gauff sharing her response after the heartbreaking AO exit
The 9-time WTA titleholder and former US Open champion (2023), Coco Gauff, has had a significantly poor run at the AO since making her Down Under debut in 2020. Despite her remarkable form elsewhere, the world No. 3 has struggled to make a deep run in the Melbourne Major.
Last year she achieved her best-ever result at the inaugural slam of the year, reaching the SF. Apart from that, she has made two RO16 appearances (2020, 2023), a QF finish this season, and suffered early exits in 2021 (RO64) and 2022 (RO128). And, after closing out 2024 with a bang, clinching the WTA Finals title with a three-set victory over 7th seed Qinwen Zheng, many expected her to carry that momentum into 2025. However, the tides turned in the QF, where she suffered a straight-set humiliation to Paula Badosa.
Following her match, Coco spoke candidly about her performance, admitting she lacked the intensity needed to overcome the Spanish on a stage like GS Quarterfinal. “I have to be aggressive,”, she said in her official press conference. Also, as per the WTA website, Coco added, “I feel like that’s when I’m playing my best. That’s how I won most of the matches so far the last few months is by playing aggressive. I think it’s just being more comfortable with that,”.
However, she also made it clear that Coco is not devastated by the result, as she will return stronger in her next matches. “I’m not crushed, but obviously it does feel bad when you feel like you’re playing great tennis for the better start of this year to lose, but it is what it is. We’ll get back to work,”.
Coco Gauff will participate in the upcoming Qatar Total Open in Doha, commencing on February 9th. Later that competition, she will participate in the Dubai Duty-Free Tennis Championship. How do you think her season will shape from now on? Is a powerful return imminent? Share your thoughts below!
The post Away From Tennis, Coco Gauff Flaunts Her Golfing Skills as She Makes the Most of Her Off-Season appeared first on EssentiallySports.