Coco Gauff’s 2024 season hasn’t quite hit the high notes fans hoped for! With a 14-6 win-loss record and no titles from six tournaments over the past three months, the American sensation is still chasing her first triumph of the year. While her form may be a cause for concern, Gauff remains undeterred. In a recent ESPN interview, she vowed, “I’m going to keep doing what I’m doing, and I’m going to keep working hard.” Yet, perhaps it’s not just tennis she needs to fine-tune.

On Tuesday, Coco Gauff gave fans a good laugh on Instagram by sharing a lighthearted moment from her time in Madrid. In a brief video clip, a scenic lakeside spot near the Madrid Open venue saw the American star trying her hands at golf. Did she succeed?

A banner naming the tournament lay casually on the ground as Coco geared up for a golf swing. With a golf club in hand, she attempted to drive the ball out of the pond area, only to watch it splash directly into the middle of the lake. Laughing off the mishap, she captioned it perfectly: “epic fall 🤣”

Back in September 2023, the tennis star shared an amusing Instagram story from a Drive Shack. In the video, a friend playfully mocked her initial whiffs with, “That’s a tennis champ right there. That’s an athlete,” before offering the classic golf tip, “Keep your head down,” which finally helped Coco make contact and hit a weak popup. She then playfully captioned the moment with her now-famous pun, “Gauff but can’t Golf.”

Following her ASB Classic win in 2024, Gauff celebrated by playing mini-golf in Melbourne at the aptly named Holey Moley. This aligns with her philosophy of balancing intense practice with enjoyable activities. As she explained, “When I’m at home, there’s never two weeks I’m practising where I’m not doing something with my friends in between. So it’s like, ‘Why would I do that in a tournament?’ So, yeah, going mini-golfing, escape rooms, movies, all of that, bowling.”

Coco Gauff kicked off 2025 in blazing form, leading Team USA to United Cup glory and making a strong run to the AO quarterfinals. But her rhythm began to waver during the Middle East tournaments and the Sunshine Doubles, where early-round exits raised eyebrows. Her recent QF loss at the Stuttgart Open, mirroring her result from last year, has only fueled the narrative around her mid-season slump. 

With expectations mounting, the 21-year-old now turns her focus to the Madrid Open, where she made her debut just last year, advancing to the R16 before falling to compatriot Madison Keys. Heading into the Madrid Open, she finds herself in a potential title race alongside heavyweights on the tour like Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek. 

Coco Gauff’s Potential Matchups at the 2025 Madrid Open

Last year, the 4th seed Coco Gauff jumped into the clay court swing without much time to acclimate, but in 2025, she’s taken a more calculated approach. In a recent interview, the American star revealed, “I think this year I came a little bit early just to give myself more time to adjust to the clay and indoor conditions here, too. So, yeah, I think overall I think it was a good decision.”

While her Stuttgart campaign didn’t go as planned, Gauff will be looking to reset and bounce back in Madrid, where she reached the 4th round in 2024. The draw this year, however, won’t be an easy ride.

Gauff, who received a 1st-round bye, could face either Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska or a qualifier in the 2nd round, both of whom could pose early tests depending on form. If she advances, a potential 3rd-round clash looms against Canadian youngster Leylah Fernandez, known for her grit and ability to rise on big stages.

Should Coco get past Fernandez, things only intensify in the 4th round, where she could face either Clara Tauson or Belinda Bencic. Both players have lifted titles this season and are in solid form, making this a crucial match for Gauff’s confidence and rhythm on clay.

The QFs may see Gauff face the red-hot Mirra Andreeva, the 17-year-old Russian phenom who’s already secured titles in Dubai and Indian Wells this year. If Gauff survives that gauntlet, she’s likely to meet the defending champion, Iga Swiatek, in the SF. Though Swiatek leads their head-to-head 11-3, Gauff won their last two encounters. And if she reaches the final, a showdown with world top seed Aryna Sabalenka could await. 

So the question remains after a disappointing season till now: can Coco finally rise to the occasion in Madrid?