The big question Jon Wertheim now has about Coco Gauff after her poor form at the start of the 2025 season

Coco Gauff’s Struggles in 2025: Jon Wertheim Raises Key Concerns

Coco Gauff’s 2025 season has been a tale of two halves. After a promising start that saw her win nine consecutive matches and help Team USA clinch the United Cup, her form has taken a downturn. Since her quarter-final loss at the Australian Open, Gauff has won only half of her matches, raising concerns about her consistency.

Her most recent defeat at the Miami Open against Magda Linette has only intensified scrutiny around the world number three. Tennis analyst Jon Wertheim weighed in on her struggles during an appearance on the Served with Andy Roddick podcast, raising a crucial question about Gauff’s game and long-term potential.

Jon Wertheim’s Take on Coco Gauff’s Struggles

Wertheim expressed concern about the vulnerability in Gauff’s game, particularly her forehand and her recurring technical breakdowns under pressure.

“I feel like our usual fallback is getting a little thin,” said Wertheim. “We always say she’s winning ugly, she’s learning to win without her best stuff, and she’s fighting through it. But how long can we stick with that narrative?”

He pointed out that Gauff’s statistics in her Miami Open defeat were alarming, with an excessive number of double faults and unforced errors. While Gauff has proven her ability to win matches despite technical struggles, Wertheim questions whether this pattern is sustainable.

“One of the great rivalries in tennis right now is Coco against her own technique. Can she overcome these days when she simply can’t find the court? We’ve seen her win majors playing suboptimal tennis, but at some point, you just want to see her play at her full potential.”

Can Gauff Rebound During the Clay Court Season?

Despite her recent struggles, Gauff has an opportunity to turn things around on clay, a surface where she has historically excelled. In 2024, she reached the semi-finals of both the Italian Open and Roland Garros, accumulating 1,398 ranking points on clay. With those points to defend, her performances over the next few months will be crucial.

Here’s a breakdown of Gauff’s key results on clay last season and the ranking points she will need to defend:

Gauff, a former Roland Garros junior champion, reached her first Grand Slam final in Paris back in 2022. She will be looking to recapture that form and make another deep run at the French Open to maintain her top ranking.

With compatriot Jessica Pegula closing in on her for the American No. 1 spot, the pressure is on for Gauff to rediscover her best tennis. Whether she can put her recent struggles behind her and shine on the clay courts remains to be seen.