Coco Gauff is a force to be reckoned with, and she’s making sure everyone knows it. After a blockbuster 2024 that included winning the China Open and the WTA Finals, the World No. 3 has stormed into 2025 with the same unstoppable energy. Fresh off leading Team USA to United Cup glory and defeating World No. 2 Iga Swiatek, Gauff opened her Australian Open campaign with a commanding 6-3, 6-3 win over Sofia Kenin. Next up? Jodie Burrage, a determined Brit ready to shake things up despite seeing Gauff as a daunting opponent!

Burrage made her way into the second round after an emotional 6-2, 6-4 win against French qualifier Leolia Jeanjean. For Burrage, this was more than just a first-round victory. It marked a huge comeback after a brutal year of injuries, including wrist surgery in February and an ankle ligament rupture that nearly derailed her career. At one point, retirement seemed like a real option for her. But the 25-year-old player isn’t backing down. Especially against Gauff’s overwhelming form.

In the post-match conference she said, “I’m going to take it to her, see if I can get more games than last time, which wasn’t very many. But, again, I feel like I’m in a different spot to the last time I played her.”

That “last time” was at the Eastbourne International in 2023, where Gauff completely dominated the match, winning 6-1, 6-1.

Facing the 20-year-old is no small task. The American has been a wrecking ball against lower-ranked opponents, boasting a streak of 33 consecutive wins over players ranked outside the Top 50. This streak dates back to Wimbledon 2023, where Gauff’s last such loss came against none other than Kenin, the same player she defeated in her Melbourne opener today.

Despite Gauff’s dominance, Burrage is taking a fresh mental approach into their second-round clash. “I feel like she’s quite an intimidating person when you are at the ball toss and stuff,” Burrage admitted. “But I feel the more I’ve had those bigger matches with those people and when I played Sabalenka at the US Open, I fell in a lot calmer state. At the end of the day, you’re just playing the ball. Try to take the person out of it and play the ball that comes to you…”

The American, whose best performance at the Australian Open came in a semi-final run last year, will look to extend her streak and keep her title dreams alive. But Burrage has nothing to lose and everything to prove. But with the kinds of results the 20-year-old Gauff has produced, there is much to lose. This can often bring inherent pressure. So how is the 2023 US Open champion dealing with it?

Coco Gauff is taking a ‘no pressure’ approach at the Australian Open

Players can feel the weight of replicating their past success on the sport’s biggest stages.
But not if you’re Coco Gauff. Ahead of her sixth Australian Open, the World No. 3 described her mindset as “relaxed and chill” as she chases her second major title.

“I know there’s going to be some tough moments in this tournament. Hopefully, I can get through them,” Gauff said in her pre-tournament press conference. “But I think just going in, entering with no pressure, just trying to stay in the moment and enjoy it as much as possible. That’s what I’ve been doing the last few tournaments. The results have obviously been good because of that. But just trying to learn to do that even when the results aren’t so good.”

This mindset marks a dramatic shift from the pressure she felt heading into last year’s US Open. Back then, Gauff entered as the defending champion but was stunned in the fourth round by Emma Navarro, committing a staggering 60 unforced errors and 19 double faults.

Since hiring Matt Daly and Jean-Christophe Faurel as her coaches in September 2024, she’s refined her mental approach and game strategy, setting the stage for what could be a massive 2025.

With this newfound composure, can Coco Gauff keep the momentum going and claim her second Grand Slam victory at the Australian Open?