Coco Gauff isn’t obsessing over rankings, but she’s got her sights set on something bigger.
“It’s not something that I’m looking at or checking every week to see how far I am from it,” the American star admitted back in February. While reaching the No. 1 spot in the WTA rankings is on her list of goals, Gauff is more focused on her on-court performances, believing the rankings will take care of themselves.
The 21-year-old has faced a challenging start to the season, suffering early exits in Australia and during the Middle East swing, followed by an underwhelming run at Indian Wells. However, she seems to have found her rhythm in Miami, securing back-to-back wins and eyeing her first WTA title of the season. But for Gauff, the ultimate goal goes beyond a tournament trophy.
Following her dominant third-round victory over Maria Sakkari (6-4, 6-2) at the Miami Open, Gauff reflected on her form. Having previously defeated Sakkari in Indian Wells just over a week earlier, the young American once again proved her superiority.
After her commanding second-round win against Sofia Kenin (6-0, 6-0), Gauff acknowledged the rarity of such a feat: “It’s very rare to get 0-0 back to back. Very rare for it to happen in general. So I was just honestly trying to forget it. I didn’t want to think about it because this is a once-in-a-couple-years type of occurrence. I was just trying to put that match in the past and focus on today.”
During the press conference, Gauff was posed with an intriguing question: Would she rather secure another Grand Slam title or reach the No. 1 ranking? Her response was immediate: “Another major.”
Explaining her preference, the reigning US Open champion elaborated, “I’ve always said… I don’t know, I feel like people remember you more for majors than for being world No. 1. Obviously, if you could have both, that’s great.” She added, “For me personally, since I only have one, I’d like to have another. Now, if I had four and hadn’t reached No. 1, then maybe it would be a different story. But only having one, I would like another to cement myself even more.”
Coco Gauff’s Next Grand Slam Target: Roland Garros
Recently turning 21, Gauff engaged in a conversation with the Roland Garros team ahead of her birthday, revealing her aspirations for the season. Topping the list? Winning her first French Open title.
Despite her immense talent, Gauff has yet to capitalize on her opportunities in Paris. She came close in 2022, reaching the final before falling to former world No. 1 Iga Swiatek. Reflecting on that loss, Gauff acknowledged Swiatek’s dominance: “I think that Iga was just too good today. It’s one of those matches where, yes, I could have played better in some moments, but she really didn’t give me anything. Every time I thought I hit a good ball, it wasn’t.”
Their rivalry continued in 2023, with Swiatek once again halting Gauff’s Roland Garros campaign, this time in the quarterfinals. Last season, Swiatek extended her reign, defeating Gauff in the semifinals before securing her third consecutive French Open title.
As the 2025 French Open approaches, Gauff knows that conquering Swiatek will be key to lifting the trophy. Speaking in a March 12 interview, she acknowledged the challenge ahead: “I do think I am a good player on clay. And I know that if I want to win that tournament, I probably have to beat her, most likely.”
She added, “She’s an unbelievable talent on any surface, but especially on clay. I feel like I have a lot of unfinished business there. And yeah, she’s definitely the number one person to beat at Roland Garros.”
Will Coco Gauff finally dethrone Iga Swiatek on the red clay of Paris and claim her second Grand Slam title? The battle is set, and tennis fans around the world can’t wait to find out.
