John McEnroe Criticizes Coco Gauff’s surprise defeat at the Australian Open as he makes confident prediction about her future

John McEnroe shared his insights on Coco Gauff’s quarter-final loss to Paula Badosa at the 2025 Australian Open, a defeat that ended Gauff’s unbeaten start to the season. Gauff, who had won the China Open, WTA Finals, and United Cup leading up to the tournament, fell to Badosa in straight sets, 5-7, 4-6. During the match, Gauff struggled with consistency, committing 41 unforced errors and six double faults, particularly on her forehand, areas McEnroe highlighted as needing improvement.

Speaking on Eurosport, McEnroe praised Badosa for her performance under pressure and noted how Gauff’s serve and forehand let her down. “I was really surprised—pleasantly surprised—by how Badosa played and the power she brought to the occasion,” McEnroe said. “Coco Gauff, yeah, there were some chinks in the armour. The serve went off a little. Way too many missed forehands, but I really enjoyed watching the way Badosa was able to handle that.”

Despite the defeat, McEnroe remains optimistic about Gauff’s future: “Back to the drawing board for Coco. But she is not far away… she can definitely improve, and she will improve.”

Gauff, who had been seen as a top contender for the title alongside defending champion Aryna Sabalenka, reflected on her defeat with a positive mindset. While disappointed, she acknowledged her recent progress. “I feel like I’m on the road to the right path. I’m not crushed,” she said. “Even though I lost today, I feel like I’m on an upward trajectory.”

She vowed to continue working hard and take the positives from her recent form: “We’ll get back to work.”