In the competitive world of tennis, you can’t please everyone, and Coco Gauff knows this all too well. After an impressive 13-match winning streak and a perfect 9-0 record in 2025, she faced a tough loss against 11th seed Paula Badosa in the Australian Open quarterfinals. Gauff had previously defeated strong players like Iga Swiatek at the United Cup but stumbled in this crucial match. Despite the setback, her confidence remains strong, even amid criticism.

Gauff’s hopes for another Grand Slam title took a hit on Tuesday when Paula Badosa defeated her 7-5, 6-4 in the quarterfinals. Struggling with 41 unforced errors, including six double faults and 28 missed forehands, Gauff couldn’t create a break point until late in the second set, allowing Badosa to capitalize and advance to her first Grand Slam semifinal. This loss echoed Gauff’s winless streak from last season, which began after her Cincinnati Open defeat and led to headlines like “Gauff’s Slump Summer.” Critics had previously pointed out her forehand and double faults—issues that resurfaced in this match.

In the post-match press conference, the 20-year-old was asked how she deals with the disappointment and social media noise after a tough defeat. “I guess you just got to realize that most of the internet coaches never coached anyone at my level and never played,” Gauff began. “So, it’s one of those things that it’s easier to look on the outside. You know, all those things when you’re playing and you’re commentating and you’ll hear some – not commentating but just people saying, ‘Oh she should have made this’ or ‘he should have made that.’ Even when I’m watching I do that, but obviously, when you’re out there, it’s different.”

Having been a pro for nearly six years now, Gauff has experienced it all—from tough losses to winning prestigious titles like the 2023 US Open and reaching a career-high ranking of No. 2 in June 2024. Reflecting on her journey, Gauff emphasizes, “I’m the one out there; I’m the one who makes the decisions at the end of the day.”

She acknowledges that “it is what it is” and that there’s no right way to navigate these challenges. Her confidence remains unshaken despite losses and criticism; she takes it all “with a grain of salt” and focuses on her experiences. With her current No. 3 ranking and 9 singles titles supporting her progress, Coco Gauff remains a force to be reckoned with.

This isn’t Gauff’s first encounter with naysayers. At just 20 years old and holding such a high position in tennis, she inevitably attracts unsolicited feedback from those who think they know better. While she understands that “people do mean well,” she also opened up about why they feel entitled to comment on her performance.

Gauff’s outlook on receiving criticism online

In November 2024, Coco Gauff shared her thoughts on handling criticism in an exclusive interview with National News. She remarked, “I honestly think maybe just because of how I entered the scene—people are very critical of me. I take it as a compliment.” Gauff sees the scrutiny as a sign of the high expectations placed on her. “Maybe they’re critical about people that they feel like can do better, so I just try to be better.”

This mindset served her well as she ended the 2024 season by winning the China Open and 2024 WTA Finals in Riyadh against 2024 Paris Olympics gold medalist Qinwen Zheng, carrying that momentum into 2025. Instead of seeking revenge against critics, she prefers to let her victories speak for themselves: “When I win, I’ll be like, that’s going to be my clap back.” This isn’t new for Gauff, who has often faced online negativity.

During the US Open, she shared her strategy for blocking out hate: “I’m not entitled to read negative things about myself. Just as you’re entitled to write that, I’m entitled to block it.” She even joked about how quickly she blocks people on X, saying with a laugh, “They are, like, ‘You say anything, and she blocks.’ Yes, I do. I don’t want to see it, so bye.”

Rather than letting negativity get her down, Gauff embraces her creativity and positivity as strengths. Sure, she’s out of the Australian Open this time around, but this is just the start of 2025. If we’ve learned anything about her, it’s that she knows how to bounce back. Who knows what’s next for her this season? The possibilities are endless!