“I think that she really enjoys playing here” – Former US Open champion gives verdict on whether Coco Gauff can win at Indian Wells

Coco Gauff’s 2025 WTA season kicked off sluggish, but ex-pro Coco Vandeweghe’s betting on the world No. 3 to conquer Indian Wells.

Gauff hit a wall in the Middle East, crashing out in the first rounds of both the Qatar Open and Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships—leaving fans sweating over a desert repeat.

**Vandeweghe Says Gauff Can Win It All at Indian Wells**
The 2018 US Open doubles champ (with Ashleigh Barty) reckons Gauff’s primed to flip the script. “This spot’s her jam,” Vandeweghe said on Tennis Channel. “She loves it here. Last year, she wobbled in, with all that forehand chatter and game noise.

“But those Middle East flops? They’ll fuel her. She thrives with grit, when the doubters pipe up. I think she’s got this title in her—but I’ll wait for the first couple matches to slap my seal on it, win or bust.”

Gauff, with a first-round bye, meets Japan’s rising star Moyuka Uchijima in round two.