Coco Gauff aims to make her opponents uncomfortable as she tries “to be more aggressive” this season

Coco Gauff earned a place in the fourth round of Indian Wells after beating Maria Sakkari 7-6(1), 6-2 in an hour and 35 minutes.

Coco Gauff aims to make her opponents uncomfortable as she tries “to be more aggressive” this season

Coco Gauff (via Instagram)

Coco Gauff has gotten back to form in Indian Wells after failing to win even one match in the Middle East swing. The World No.3 secured her place in the fourth round of Indian Wells after getting past Maria Sakkari. She now aims to become less predictable about her game plan moving forward in the WTA 1000 tournament.

Gauff began the year helping the United States claim the United Cup and reaching the quarter-finals of the Australian Open. She ended January with a 9-1 record. But she went 0-2 in February after losing in the opening round of February’s Middle East swing. Arriving at Indian Wells, she was handed a good draw.

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She faced World No.2 Moyuka Uchijima in the opening match and had to fight past the Japanese in three sets. However, in her third round match Sakkari, she put in an amazing performance to win the tie 7-6(1), 6-2 in just one hour and 35 minutes. Also, the win was her revenge against the Greek, who defeated her in the semifinals last year.

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During her Gauff press conference, she was asked whether she has become easily predictable by other players. The American revealed that it has been the case, but she’s looking forward to making her opponents more uncomfortable and playing aggressively on the court.

Obviously, everyone knows the game plan against me, but since the end of last year, I’ve been trying to be more aggressive on that side, so people won’t feel as comfortable putting a ball there anymore. On these slow courts, they will have to hit a very good shot to prevent me from being aggressive; I’ve been working hard on that to get used to it.

Coco Gauff said via Indian Wells Press

Gauff is still seeking for her first title of the season. The American star is yet to reach any tournament semifinals. She will be hoping to win the Indian Wells title for the first time in her career.

Coco Gauff says Madison Keys winning the Australian Open was inspiring

Madison Keys’ victory at the Australian Open remains one of the biggest stories of the 2025 season. The American had spent years working on her serve and changing racket. These changes had a culminating effect this season as she’s now reaping the fruits of her hard work. The 30-year-old also seats as World No.5 in the WTA rankings.

Madison Keys
Madison Keys (via X)

Coco Gauff was asked about her during her press conference. The 20-year-old revealed that Keys winning the Australian Open was inspiring. She added that she wasn’t really surprised bat her winning the title.

Definitely inspiring just because I’m in that process, and the fact that she committed to it maybe what people consider later in her career. I wasn’t surprised by her winning. I think she’s one of those players you play and she’s just so good and she has the capability of beating anyone on any given day, and she certainly proved that in the past and certainly proved that in Australia.

Coco Gauff said

Gauff will face Belinda Bencic in the Round of 16 in Indian Wells. The American star holds a slim 2-1 lead in their head-to-head record and also won their most recent meeting at the Australian Open in January.