Nothing seems to be going Coco Gauff’s way at the moment. Just when it seemed the 2025 season belonged to her, the fortunes turned upside down. Coming off her WTA Finals victory last November, she rode on the winning momentum at the United Cup in January, helping Team USA win the event for a second time. But after that glory, her form spiraled downward with a QF loss at the Australian Open and a first-round exit at the Qatar Open. If that wasn’t enough, the 2023 US Open winner was also ousted in the first round in Dubai last month, losing to McCartney Kessler in straight sets.
But the 20-year-old is not one to dwell on her losses for too long. Coco is on a short break after the Middle East swing and is promoting her beverage partner Tropicana’s new smoothies. On Friday, she shared the video clip of an ad where she could be seen promoting the brand’s Naked Smoothie line. The caption read, “Quick sips, quick win @nakedsmoothie .” However, even on a break, the former US Open champion hasn’t gone completely away from tennis. She is looking to improve her form ahead of the next WTA challenge. But where is her next challenge?
Gauff took to her Instagram on Saturday and shared a clip from her practice session in California. She can be seen hitting back-to-back forehands along with a few backhands. Her next destination will be the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells. Often dubbed the ‘fifth slam’ due to the high attendance of fans, it’s one of the two popular events in March that make up the Sunshine Double. The other one is the Miami Open that takes place right after the Indian Wells.
Considering her shaky form in recent times, however, it won’t be an easy campaign for Coco Gauff. Especially taking into account the fact that she hasn’t done well at the Indian Wells historically. In the last three editions, she hasn’t been able to make it to the final. In 2022, she was ousted in the first round after losing to Simona Halep. Then, in 2023, she made a slight comeback and reached the QF stage. But World number 1 Aryna Sabalenka crushed her hopes to enter the last four, winning with a score line of 6-4, 6-0. Last season, Gauff impressed with her semifinal run before losing to Maria Sakkari 4-6, 7-6, 2-6.
No doubt, Coco is currently struggling, but she is determined to prove herself on the court in 2025. In fact, she’s set big goals for herself this season. One of them happens to be getting to the top of the pile in the WTA singles rankings!
Coco Gauff is eying the World No.1 ranking
Last month, ahead of her R32 encounter against Marta Kostyuk in Doha, Coco Gauff addressed the press and revealed her objectives for the season. “I think just improving and seeing where it goes. For me, the points thing is just, first of all, too mathematical. I don’t know how people come up with all these different scenarios. Like, it’s pretty impressive.”
When asked she was looking to achieve the World No. 1 position, Coco responded, “I think I just focus on trying to win, and you know the ranking comes with it, so just trying to do my best to win, and obviously, the goal would be to be No. 1, that would be awesome, but it’s not something that I’m like looking or checking every week to see how far I am from it.”
Interestingly, some of the prominent tennis figures also believe that she can make it happen. Serena Williams’ childhood coach Rick Macci wrote on X last month, “Coco has untapped potential and can get to number one and most of all stay there. If the second serve becomes an asset and forehand becomes her best shot.”
As of now, it’s not confirmed who’s going to be Coco Gauff’s first-round opponent in Indian Wells. Whoever that might be, the World No.3 will be looking to start with a bang. Are you backing Coco to bounce back at the BNP Paribas Open? Let us know in the comments below.
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