“Coco has untapped potential and can get to number one and most of all stay there,” Serena Williams’ childhood coach Rick Macci wrote on X last month. After clinching the WTA Finals last season and the United Cup for America in January, Coco Gauff seemed to be finding her old mojo back, only to be hit by a roadblock at the Australian Open, where she lost to Paula Badosa in the quarterfinals. Two early exits in the Middle East swing followed thereafter, and now her form is a bit of a concern again. But while Macci is backing Coco to get to the top spot in the world rankings, another notable tennis figure has echoed his thoughts.

For the unversed, Coco Gauff couldn’t move past the first round at the Qatar Open. Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk eliminated her with a score line of 6-2, 7-5. Next up, she failed to put on a strong performance at the Dubai Tennis Championships as well, where compatriot McCartney Kessler edged her out in the R32 with a score line of 6-4, 7-5. Still, ex-WTA pro and former German player Andrea Petkovic thinks Gauff is the “best”.

Gauff’s next WTA challenge will be at the Indian Wells. And she has historically struggled to challenge for the title there. Remember how she crashed out in the event’s first round back in 2022 against Simona Halep? Then, in 2023, she reached the QF stage only to be toppled by the current World number 1, Aryna Sabalenka. But things took a turn last season. It was when Gauff made an impressive run to the semifinals. Yes, she eventually lost to Maria Sakkari, but her campaign was dominating, and the former German pro Andrea Petkovic hasn’t forgotten.

In an episode of the Tennis Channel Live podcast dated March 3, the 37-year-old reflected on Gauff’s performance at the 2024 Indian Wells. Especially that third-round battle where she handed a bagel to Belgium’s Elise Mertens for a 6-0, 6-2 win. Watching a throwback clip of that match, Petkovic said, “She is, in my opinion, the best athlete we’ve ever had on a tennis court on the women’s side, period. At the backhand, boy, oh boy, when it is firing, she is winning major titles, as she has shown in the US Open. And this one is a perfect mixture of defensive skills and backhand on the lines.”

Yes, Gauff might not be at the top of her game right now, but at Indian Wells, she will be determined to prove her doubters wrong. And it’s not just the Indian Wells; the 20-year-old has some huge goals for the 2025 season overall. One of them happens to be getting to the No.1 spot in the WTA rankings.

Coco Gauff looks to reach the No.1 ranking

Ahead of her R32 encounter at the Qatar Open against Marta Kostyuk, Coco Gauff opened up about her plans for this season going forward. In the pre-match press conference, she said, “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 about her ambitions in terms of rankings, she revealed, “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.” However, she added, “It’s not something that I’m like looking or checking every week to see how far I am from it.”

Coming back to her upcoming campaign at the BNP Paribas Open, there’s good news for her fans. The American has received a bye in the opening round, which means she will start her campaign directly in the second round.

However, it’s not confirmed who her opponent will be in the match scheduled for Friday. Regardless of the opponent, though, Coco will be looking to put on a show and replicate what she did in Riyadh to cap off the last season. Can the American clinch her 10th WTA singles title at Indian Wells?