Follow us on Google Discover Coco Gauff was brilliant in her latest win at the Wuhan Open, needing just 51 minutes to beat Moyuka Uchijima.
However, this year hasn’t always been quite so straightforward for Gauff.
At the China Open last week, Gauff was thrashed in 58 minutes by Amanda Anisimova, and there were some fears there would be a hangover coming into this tournament.
Gauff served brilliantly against Uchijima and whisper it quietly, but a small corner could have been turned by the American superstar.
Gauff is still facing some battles, but it shouldn’t be forgotten that only a matter of months ago, the 21-year-old was winning the French Open to claim a second singles title of her career.
Photo by Wang He/Getty ImagesPam Shriver thinks she knows the reason why Coco Gauff’s form dropped after the French Open
Things have been a little bit tough for Gauff since winning at Roland Garros.
Wimbledon saw her dumped out at the first hurdle and at the US Open, she was beaten in the round of 16 by a resurgent Naomi Osaka.
Shriver has told the Inside-In podcast on YouTube what exactly Gauff struggled with after the French Open finished.
She said: “Listen, coming off winning her second singles major, beating Sabalenka in tough windy conditions, and if you had said upon winning your second major that you’d go into your worst serving slump, basically get the yips, you would have said, but why?
“Really, she came out of the gates after that second major win. I know there were a lot of distractions after that win, with the way Sabalenka didn’t handle things well either on court or in her press conference. There were a lot of distractions going into Wimbledon when they practised together and were trying to put everything to bed.
“Whatever it was, Coco didn’t go into Wimbledon and the grass season or the US swing in a relaxed fashion, she just became super anxious and I’ve always had a theory that when the serve goes off, the forehand and the serve kind of go off together and that’s kind of what happened and especially in Canada, like winning a match with 24 double faults, that’s just like, wow, it blows you away.
“She felt she needed a new voice, and she was so emotional and so uneasy at the US Open, and I just think good for her for getting the round of 16, and you want to see a great athlete like Coco not get anxiety and tighten up on the shot.
“So we will see, a lot of times, it’s not always the shot, but it’s what is between the ears, and I think both perhaps just need a little bit of work.”
Gauff can finish the year with a flourish
Last year, Gauff came to life at the end of the year, winning in China and at the WTA Finals in Riyadh.
There is absolutely no saying that she won’t do the same again this year, given how good Gauff is at her very best!
As one of the most likeable players on the tour, Gauff is still so young at 21, and it’s mad to think her serve gets so much stick despite the fact she’s a multiple Grand Slam champion.
Gauff has had a bit of a rollercoaster year on the tour but given her latest performance, all the signs point towards the American finishing 2025 in style.