Coco Gauff Addresses Mounting Pressure Ahead of 2025 French Open: ‘I’ve Come a Long Way’

Coco Gauff, the world No. 2 and 2023 US Open champion, has opened up about the intense pressure and expectations surrounding her as she prepares for the 2025 French Open, which began on May 25, 2025, at Roland Garros. In a press conference on May 24, 2025, Gauff reflected on her journey, stating, “I’ve come a long way since I was 15, playing here for the first time. The pressure’s real, but I’m learning to embrace it,” per Olympics.com. This candid admission, reported by outlets like SportsTak and echoed in posts on X such as @MSports_all’s “Coco Gauff’s Heart-Wrenching Battle at French Open Revealed” (X, May 21, 2025), highlights her mindset as she aims for her first Roland Garros singles title. Despite a favorable draw and a strong clay season, Gauff faces significant challenges, including her serve struggles, the psychological shadow of Iga Świątek, and the weight of national expectations, all of which she’s navigating with a newfound sense of “liberté.”

Context of Gauff’s Pressure

At 21, Gauff is America’s tennis torchbearer, carrying the mantle of Serena Williams, who retired in 2022 (Daily Express US, September 1, 2023). Her 2023 US Open triumph and 2024 WTA Finals title, where she became the youngest champion since 2004, defeating Świątek and Aryna Sabalenka (Wikipedia, May 19, 2025), have heightened expectations. Her 2024 French Open doubles title with Kateřina Siniaková and consistent deep runs at Roland Garros—reaching the 2022 final and semifinals in 2024—position her as a top contender (WTA Official, April 28, 2025). However, her 0-3 finals record in 2025, including losses to Sabalenka in Madrid and Jasmine Paolini in Rome, underscores a “closing hurdle” in converting deep runs into titles (SportsTak, May 21, 2025).

Gauff’s comments about pressure come amid a grueling clay season, where she reached the Madrid and Rome finals, posting a 24-8 season record (SportsTak). Her recovery efforts, including a -140°F ice bath post-Rome, reflect her commitment to peaking at Roland Garros (Sportskeeda, May 18, 2025). Yet, her anxious admission, as noted by @MSports_all, reveals the mental toll of expectations, particularly after her 2022 French Open final loss to Świątek, which she called her toughest defeat but a catalyst for her 2023 US Open win (People.com, September 11, 2023).

Key Challenges and Gauff’s Response

1. Serve Struggles and Technical Flaws: Gauff’s 193 double faults in 2025, the most on the WTA Tour, remain a critical weakness, with 42 in Rome alone (SportsTak). Experts like Rick Macci and Rennae Stubbs attribute this to mental pressure and a faulty grip, with Stubbs noting her “low elbow” and “jumping left arm” (Sportskeeda). Gauff acknowledged this after Rome, saying, “If I want to make it to the next level, it’s something I have to improve,” and has been tweaking her serve with coach Matt Daly (Reuters, May 21, 2025). Her Indian Wells press conference on March 12, 2025, detailed progress, noting a steadier motion despite wanting to be “more aggressive” (BNP Paribas Open).
2. Iga Świątek’s Psychological Hold: Świątek, the three-time defending champion, leads their head-to-head 11-4, including a 6-1, 6-3 rout in the 2022 Roland Garros final (SportsTak). Despite Świątek’s shaky 2025 form (0-4 against Gauff and Mirra Andreeva), her clay dominance makes her Gauff’s biggest obstacle (ESPN Africa, May 24, 2025). Gauff’s recent wins over Świątek, including the 2024 WTA Finals and 2025 United Cup, boost her confidence, but she admitted, “Iga’s always in my head on clay,” per Roland-Garros.com (March 12, 2025).
3. National Expectations and Mental Pressure: As the American No. 1, Gauff faces immense scrutiny, amplified by comparisons to Williams. She told Daily Express US in 2023, “There’s slight pressure, but Serena’s one of a kind,” emphasizing her focus on her own path. Her 2024 US Open fourth-round loss to Emma Navarro, with 19 double faults, prompted her to address mental hurdles, saying, “I don’t want to lose matches like this anymore” (USAToday.com, September 2, 2024). Gauff credits breathing exercises and Kobe Bryant’s “focus on the craft” philosophy for staying grounded, as shared by her father Corey (AP News, May 31, 2024). She reiterated this in 2025, saying, “I meditate to stay calm. Billions don’t know who I am, so I keep perspective” (Olympics.com, May 24, 2025).

Gauff’s Mindset and French Open Outlook

Gauff’s “long way” comment reflects her growth from a 15-year-old Wimbledon qualifier to a Grand Slam champion. She told Roland-Garros.com, “I love tennis more now than at 17, 18, because I’m freer from pressure,” crediting her maturity (Roland-Garros.com, March 12, 2025). Her favorable draw, avoiding Świątek and Sabalenka until the final, pits her against Anna Kalinskaya or Barbora Krejčiková in early rounds and potentially Madison Keys in the quarterfinals, per USAToday.com (May 24, 2025). Analysts like George Patten predict a semifinal run, citing her clay finals, though Lee Clarke warns that unforced errors could limit her (TheTennisGazette.com, May 22, 2025).

Gauff’s approach is point-by-point, as she stated, “I’m not thinking about the end result, just enjoying each match” (The Guardian, May 29, 2022). Her 2024 French Open semifinal run, where she overcame Ons Jabeur in three sets, showcased this resilience (Olympics.com, June 4, 2024). Fan sentiment on X, like @TennisNation’s “Coco’s mental game is next-level, she’s ready for Paris” (X, May 23, 2025), reflects optimism, though some, like @WTAFanatic, worry about her serve under pressure (X, May 24, 2025).

Conclusion

Coco Gauff’s acknowledgment of her “long way” journey underscores her evolution in handling pressure as she enters the 2025 French Open as the No. 2 seed. Despite her serve issues, Świątek’s dominance, and national expectations, her clay-court success (Madrid and Rome finals), mental strategies (meditation and Bryant’s mindset), and favorable draw make her a strong contender. Her candidness about pressure, as reported by SportsTak and amplified on X, shows vulnerability and strength. While winning Roland Garros remains a challenge, Gauff’s growth suggests she’s closer than ever to exorcising her 2022 ghosts and claiming a second Grand Slam.