Remember last year’s Wimbledon? The 4th seed Coco Gauff showed her class not just in the game but in grace, delivering praise for Britain’s breakout star Sonay Kartal after a 6-4, 6-0 win. “She was playing at a high level… she wasn’t giving me much to work with and does a good job of mixing up her variety so you never feel settled,” Gauff said, applauding Kartal’s fearless display. The Brit, then ranked 298th, made history as the first home qualifier since 1977 to reach the third round. And back to May 2025, Gauff once again headlines the spotlight, this time in Rome, after edging out an 18-year-old Canadian in a gritty battle and delivering yet another classy message. Curious to know what she said this time?

Coco Gauff arrived in Rome, riding high on momentum after her impressive run to the Madrid Open final. Yet her 2nd-round clash was anything but easy, as she faced off against an on-fire Victoria Mboko.

The 18-year-old Canadian, 156th, has been one of the most consistent players on the ITF circuit this year, racking up an eye-popping 33 wins and 5 titles. She wasted no time showing her form, racing to a 5-2 lead and snatching the first set from the American. Though Gauff mounted a thrilling comeback to win in three sets, the match was a powerful showcase of Mboko’s fearless and mature game.

What made the moment even more special was how Mboko, who started the year ranked 333, stood tall under the bright lights of Rome’s centre court. The Foro Italico crowd quickly rallied behind her, captivated by her fierce groundstrokes and poise that belied her age. Gauff, ever gracious in victory, didn’t hold back in her praise, offering heartfelt words to Mboko at the net and later in her post-match interview. 

Right after her intense battle in the Italian Open, Coco Gauff took a moment to acknowledge the incredible effort of her young opponent, Victoria Mboko. The microphone’s courtside caught the touching exchange during their handshake as Gauff, with a warm pat on Mboko’s shoulder, said, “Keep your head up, okay? You did great.” 

Even in her on-court interview, the 4th seed further praised the 18-year-old Canadian’s performance, confirming she had been ready for the challenge. “It was a tough match. Victoria, she came out playing some great tennis. I knew she was going to do that just from watching some of her previous matches,” Gauff shared with the crowd, recognizing the poise and skill that Mboko brought to the center court stage.

Coco Gauff to Victoria Mboko at the net after beating her in Rome:

“Keep your head up, okay? You did great”

❤️

pic.twitter.com/ZfJZErDcik

— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) May 9, 2025

And this wasn’t the 1st time Coco Gauff showed the world what grace and empathy look like in competitive tennis. At the 2024 China Open, her heartfelt reaction after Naomi Osaka retired because of a back injury during their 4th-round match became a moment fans won’t forget. Osaka had taken the first set 6-3, and after Gauff rallied to take the second 6-4, the Japanese star had to withdraw.

Rather than celebrating the win, The American immediately approached Osaka with concern. She offered her a hug, checked on her condition, and even volunteered to carry her bag as they walked off the court together, a simple but powerful act of sportsmanship!

Amidst the praise for her on- and off-court conduct, Gauff also opened up recently about the heartbreak of her Madrid Open final loss. She candidly spoke about her struggles with serving in that match, acknowledging that it played a major role in the outcome of a match.

Coco Gauff reflects on Missed Opportunities in Gut-Wrenching Madrid Open Loss to Aryna Sabalenka

It looks like Coco Gauff may have finally rediscovered her rhythm. Before the clay court swing, Gauff struggled to find consistency across various surfaces, from Australia to the Middle East and the US. She even suffered back-to-back 1st-round exits earlier in the season. Her clay campaign didn’t begin well either, ending in a QF exit in Stuttgart. But the tide turned in Madrid, where she stormed into the final and nearly clinched the title, falling just short in a tightly contested battle against Aryna Sabalenka.

The final started with Sabalenka dominating, winning 17 straight points. Gauff, however, didn’t fold! She fought back hard, leading 5-3 in the second set and pushing the match into a dramatic tie-break. She saved six break points and even had a set point of her own, but a double fault at a crucial moment tilted the match in the Belarusian’s favor.

After the loss, the former US Open winner didn’t shy away from assessing her performance. Speaking to the WTA Tour, the 21-year-old admitted, “1st serve % was really low. When you’re playing someone as aggressive as Aryna, you def have to put more 1st serves in the court. I wish I could’ve done that better. I had a set point in the 2nd set & couple chances in the tiebreak to go up.”

The numbers back up her frustration! Sabalenka landed 69% of her serves and won 68% of her 1st serve points, compared to Gauff’s 55% first serve rate and 57% win percentage. Coco also recorded 8 double faults versus Sabalenka’s two and made 33 unforced errors to the Belarusian’s 26.

With that in mind, next up in Rome, Gauff faces Magda Linette, who defeated her earlier in Miami. With her service issues clearly identified, can Coco bounce back and continue her run toward the Italian Open title?