Expectations on Coco Gauff’s shoulders before 2024 were even higher than usual after she won her maiden Grand Slam title at the 2023 US Open. Some expected the American to win multiple major titles in 2025, but that was never going to be easy due to the depth of the WTA Tour. What followed was a roller-coaster season that ultimately ended in glory. This article looks back at the highs and lows of Gauff’s season.<\/p>\n
Gauff made the perfect start to 2024 by retaining the ASB Classic title in Auckland<\/a>. The 20-year-old overcame Elina Svitolina in an entertaining three-set final to triumph. Few, if any, would have predicted that Gauff would go nine months without a title after that success. She might count herself slightly unlucky at the Australian Open. Aryna Sabalenka beat her 7-5 6-4 in the semifinal even though the young star actually played better than in the US Open final a few months before against the same opponent.<\/p>\n The nine-time WTA title winner also reached the semifinals at the Indian Wells Open, Italian Open, and French Open by the end of the clay court season. In truth, Gauff did very well in staying competitive, considering the issues with her game. Repeated double faults on second serve and errors on her forehand were the main problems. Grinding out several victories despite those frailties was a mental effort that no other WTA player might have been able to manage. Gauff rose to No. 2 in the world after the French Open in June.<\/p>\n After months of fighting with those second serve and forehand problems, Gauff’s results deteriorated slightly more from the grass court swing until the end of the 2024 US Open. However, it is important to note that this is relative to how good last year’s US Open champion is. Gauff still reached the fourth round of Wimbledon and the US Open and the semifinal of the Berlin Open. She lost to Emma Navarro, who enjoyed a breakthrough season<\/a>, at Wimbledon and the US Open.<\/p>\n The American No. 1 made the brave decision to split with her coach, Brad Gilbert, after the loss to Navarro at Flushing Meadows. Gilbert was Gauff’s coach during her historic US Open success last year and has successfully coached other significant figures in tennis, such as Andre Agassi and Andy Roddick. She replaced him with Matt Daly, who previously worked with Denis Shapovalov. The move proved to be inspired.<\/p>\nDifficulties During Grass Court and North American Hardcourt Swings<\/h4>\n