Former WTA star reveals why Coco Gauff will be a top contender for the 2025 Australian Open
Former WTA star believes Coco Gauff will continue with her 2024 season-ending form at the 2025 Australian Open.
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Coco Gauff (via X)
Coco Gauff ended the 2024 season brightly after a loss of form in the North American swing. The American clinched the WTA Finals and now, is not leaving any stone unturned as she’s busy training for the 2025 season. Former WTA star Andrea Petkovic has placed her as a top contender for the Australian Open next season.
Gauff began the year brightly by winning the Auckland Open and reaching the semifinals of the 2024 Australian Open. After that, the 20-year-old began to have issues with her serves which caused her to lose several matches. It was noticeable in her defeat to Emma Navarro at the US Open.
She parted ways with Brad Gilbert and then appointed Matt Daly as her new coach. The new partnership bore fruit immediately as Gauff went on to win the China Open, reach the semifinals of the Wuhan Open, and win the WTA Finals. The World No.3 is currently a contender to win her second Grand Slam in Melbourne.
During an episode of the Rennae Stubbs Podcast show, Andrea Petkovic pointed out that Gauff’s great form at the end of this season makes her a favorite to win the 2025 Australian Open.
I think that Coco Gauff will be one of the favorites. I think the way she played the rest of the season after the US Open was so impressive, changing the grip on the serve. She needed to do it, but in the middle of the season, I had so much respect for that. And I think she will be one of the favorites.
Andrea Petkovic said via Rennae Stubbs Podcast
Gauff failed to reach the final of any Grand Slam this season although she reached two semifinals. The American was one of the top favorites ahead of this year; but she will have to do more than be a favorite in Melbourne when the events start on January 12.
Andrea Petkovic points out a major issue with Coco Gauff’s poor serves
One issue several tennis commentators and legends have always pointed out about Coco Gauff’s game is her serve. The American thought she had dealt with it at the China Open, but it came back to haunt her at the Wuhan Open. She committed 21 double faults which eventually saw her lose to Aryna Sabalenka in three sets in the semifinals.
The issue nearly cost her to lose the WTA Finals but she managed to prevail. During the aforementioned conversation, Andrea Petkovic highlighted candidly the issue with Gauff’s serve.
The one thing I will say, last year at the Austrian Open, and we talked about it, she came out so jacked from the off season that I almost felt she was 2-3 kilos too heavy on the upper part of her body. And that’s why I thought she was having trouble with her serve. Of course, through the course of the season, it turned out it was also a technical issue.
Andrea Petkovic said
Gauff will have to deal with her serve issue by making sure she lands her shots more accurately. Hopefully, with coach Matt Daly, it will be solved before the 2025 Auckland Open which starts on December 30.
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Victor Okechukwu
(730 Articles Published)