Coco Gauff truly shone in the final stretch of the 2024 WTA season. She clinched the WTA Finals title, defeating Qinwen Zheng in a thrilling three-set match: 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (2). This victory exceeded the expectations set at the beginning of the season. After winning the Auckland title in January, Gauff struggled to secure another title for a long time, despite reaching the semifinals at several tournaments, including the French Open. That resulted in quite a bit of criticism as well. However, Gauff bounced back towards the end of the season, winning at the China Open, showcasing her resilience.

As she struggled with her form in the middle phase of the season, many speculated about Gauff’s strategy and suggested changes to her game. On the Sky Sports Tennis podcast, the renowned journalist Jonathan Overend recalled, “A period of relative disappointment. The world has started picking apart her game, telling her what she’s doing wrong. Telling her ‘You gotta change your grip here,’ ‘You’ve gotta change that.’”

“And what happens? She makes those—she knows that. She makes some changes, she comes back, she wins Beijing. Like, straight away,” he added. Gauff’s victory at the China Open came right after a disappointing early exit from the US Open against Emma Navarro. In Beijing, she showcased her skills by defeating Paula Badosa in the semifinals and then taking down Karolina Muchova in the final. Gauff won decisively with a score of 6-1, 6-3. Overend further remarked, “It’s just the resilience of this player is so great at such a young age.”

Gauff’s improvement is often attributed to her partnership with coach Matt Daly. She effectively implemented his advice during critical matches, particularly at the WTA Finals. Overend pointed out that this was Gauff’s third consecutive appearance at the WTA Finals as the youngest player. She’s still just 20 years old and achieved so much.

With nine career titles under her belt, including a Grand Slam win at the 2023 US Open, she currently ranks No. 3 in the WTA standings. Overend emphasized her potential for further growth, saying, “The potential she still has with those improvements she knows that she can make.”

Not to forget, Coco Vandeweghe also noted that it was Gauff’s newfound confidence that propelled her to victory in Riyadh. Now, Gauff is eager to carry this momentum into the 2025 season.

Gauff expresses her emotions about preparing for the next season

Coco Gauff is kicking off her preseason with excitement and nostalgia. Before the French Open, she celebrated her high school graduation in front of the Eiffel Tower. Now, she’s back at it, reminiscing about those school days filled with surprises. Announcing her preseason on X with a fun twist, she wrote, “First day of preseason gives first day of school vibes.”

The former US Open champion has been active on social media, sharing glimpses of her training. She posted a collage of photos on Instagram as well showing her running on a treadmill while wearing a mask. Gauff is clearly focused on staying fit and making a strong start to her 2025 season.

Despite the concerns from fans about jumping back into preseason so soon after the WTA Finals, Gauff is determined to keep her momentum going. She recently lifted the WTA Finals trophy and now looks ahead to the challenges of the new season. Do you think Coco Gauff will add another Grand Slam to her tally in 2025? Share your thoughts in the comments below.