Underdog Coco Gauff poised for French Open challenge following Aryna Sabalenka conquest, displaying potential for triumph.
Leading Lady Gauff Roars Back on the Red Dirt
After a rocky start to 2025, tennis sensation Coco Gauff is clawing her way back to the top. The 21-year-old sensation put forth a stunning effort in Madrid, reaching the finals of the tournament, only to be edged out by the fierce Aryna Sabalenka.
In a nail-biting final, Gauff displayed a remarkable comeback spirit, fighting back from a 3-0 deficit to level the game at 3-3, and later at 5-5, fending off six break points in the process. Despite giving it her all, Sabalenka's formidable ferocity proved too much, ultimately securing the title with a 6-3, 7-6 victory.
Sabalenka's triumph added the Madrid Open to her list of titles, which already included wins in Brisbane, Melbourne, and Miami this year. However, Gauff's valiant performance served as a powerful reminder of her potential on the red clay.
Following the final, the Madrid Open will undoubtedly serve as a beacon of inspiration, signifying Gauff's competitive spirit on clay courts.
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Before gracing the Madrid finals, Gauff demolished Iga Swiatek 6-0, 6-1, a surface the Pole typically dominates. "I was aggressive and played flat," Gauff proclaimed after her resounding victory. "Clay is one of my better surfaces too; if I can beat her on hard, I can beat her on clay."
As the Italian Open swiftly approaches, Gauff will look to continue her red clay resurgence. This tournament marks the beginning of her French Open preparations, a Grand Slam in which she has enjoyed a degree of success.
Steve Johnson, a four-time ATP title winner and American, believes Gauff has a legitimate shot at clinching the French Open title. "She's one of, if not the best competitor, and the most mentally stable… she's going to take a lot of confidence from this Madrid final," Johnson asserted on the Nothing Major podcast.
Johnson also highlighted the areas Gauff needs to focus on, stating that while her forehand is her weaker side and her serve occasionally wavers, her outstanding mental fortitude and ability to perform consistently are unparalleled on the women's side.
Gauff reached the finals of the French Open at the tender age of 18 without dropping a set before succumbing 6-1, 6-3 to Swiatek. She has also notched two semifinals and two finals in Paris and claimed the doubles title there in 2024, teaming up with Katerina Siniakova to earn the victory.
It comes as no surprise that Gauff excels on clay, a surface former coach Brad Gilbert considers her strongest. "Her movement on clay is a significant factor, but Swiatek has solidified herself as the dominant force on clay at a young age," Gilbert noted in 2024, having coached Gauff to victory at the US Open in 2023.
"[Gauff] made her first final of a major on clay, and this implies that clay should probably be her best surface," Gilbert added. "Andre Agassi also reached the finals of the French a couple of times when he was young, leading one to think that he could win that. And then that became the last major title he managed to win."
Having secured a crucial victory over the reigning champion of the last three French Opens, Swiatek, Gauff feels confident that she can top any clay-court player. Roland Garros may not just be a place where she is a contender, but rather the ideal environment for her to snag her second career major.
With dedication, self-belief, and a solid game plan, could Gauff cement her status as a French Open champion in 2025? We'll soon find out.
- Coco Gauff, despite a challenging start in 2025, displayed remarkable resilience on red clay, reaching the finals of the Madrid Open.
- In a Sports-analysis podcast, Steve Johnson praised Gauff's mental strength and competitiveness, suggesting she could potentially win the French Open.
- Johnson also acknowledged areas for improvement, such as Gauff's weaker forehand and occasional serve inconsistency, but emphasized her outstanding mental fortitude as her greatest asset.
- Former coach Brad Gilbert, who helped Gauff win the US Open in 2023, considers her movement on clay and her success in the French Open a strong indicator that it's her best surface.
- Gauff's victory over the defending champion, Iga Swiatek, in Madrid suggests she could challenge any clay-court player at the French Open in 2025.
- The pursuit of personal-growth and education-and-self-development through sports will likely propel Gauff as she strives to win her second career major at Roland Garros in 2025.
