Coco Gauff has ridden a rollercoaster of form over the past year, soaring through triumphs in China and the WTA Finals, only to stumble in early exits at the AO and endure a string of back-to-back defeats in the Middle East. Most recently, she’s faced two final losses as well to Aryna Sabalenka and Jasmine Paolini in 3 weeks. And as she now sets her sights on the French Open with renewed determination, tennis great Andy Roddick raises a red flag. He warns of an unpredictable threat lurking in Gauff’s draw: a true dark horse. But who is he pointing to?

During a recent episode of the “Served” podcast, Andy Roddick unexpectedly identified Barbora Krejčíková, a two-time Grand Slam champion, as a potential contender for Coco Gauff and the other women in her bracket. Speaking to the podcast, while making his own WTA predictions, Andy added, “Barbora Krejčíková might be the exception to my thing is like I’d like people to win matches going into majors or I’d like people to at least have some momentum like Krejčíková is she could not win a match for two years and I’m like “Oh she’s a threat in the slam she’s done it before she’s won the French Open and she’s won Wimbledon.”

He subsequently explained how the check could potentially be the wildcard of the competition because of her unpredictable performance on the tour. “I love Krejčíková, she is such a professional. You just never know. Okay this is going to be the one where I give props and if this matchup actually happens then its if Krejčíková, she’s like the ‘Novak of this draw’ like if she gets through her first couple of rounds and finds her form then she is a real problem for the entire field,” he added. 

“I can’t bet against Coco, I have Coco in the semis but with the caveat of that’s because I have confidence in her getting to the fourth round. If Krejčíková gets to the fourth round, that’s gonna be a real problem for Coco and for everyone else that she plays, if she makes the fourth round she might as well make the semis,” Andy Concluded. 

For the wider audience, the Czech Barbora Krejčíková is no stranger to GS glory. The former 2nd seed captured two of the sport’s most coveted titles, winning the 2021 French Open and the 2024 Wimbledon Championships. However, despite her decorated resume, her recent form has been shaky. Sunday marked her return to the Hologic WTA Tour after more than six months of having been sidelined with back issues, stepping in as the 7th seed at the Internationaux de Strasbourg, a WTA 500 event boasting a million-dollar purse.

However, her much-anticipated comeback didn’t begin on a winning note either. Krejčíková fell 6-3, 6-3 to Magda Linette in a match where, despite glimpses of her trademark smooth stroke play, she looked a fraction flat as described on the World Feed broadcast. Notably, her last victory on tour came against Coco Gauff during the WTA Finals group stage, though she was later eliminated by China’s Qinwen Zheng.

Looking ahead to Roland Garros, Coco Gauff could face a major challenge in the 4th round. A potential matchup against Krejčíková looms, a rematch of their 2021 French Open QF, where the Czech emerged victorious. Gauff holds a 0-2 record against her, making this a high-stakes encounter. 

And with the tournament just days away from kicking off, Gauff remains focused and determined, building her confidence as she gears up for the challenge ahead.

“Get to the final there & win it”: Coco Gauff’s plan for the French Open run

Coco Gauff’s clay-court journey in 2025 has featured several impressive wins, but the ultimate prize, a title, has remained just out of reach for now. She achieved a commanding series of victories in Rome, defeating prominent players, including Zheng Qinwen and Mirra Andreeva to reach the final. However, she was stopped short by Italy’s own Jasmine Paolini, who played with relentless energy and precision.

Earlier in May, the 2nd seed also reached the final in Madrid, only to fall to Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets. While these back-to-back losses were frustrating, the former US Open champion remains undeterred. 

In an interview with the WTA right after her Rome defeat, Gauff opened up about her mindset. Reflecting on her consecutive runner-up finishes in Spain and Italy, she shared an inspiring quote that’s been fueling her motivation, coming into France: “Two results I’m obviously pretty disappointed in, but overall I have a lot of confidence going into Roland Garros and hopefully I can get to the final there & win it. I think I saw Medvedev say it’s better to lose in finals than first round.”

Despite the setbacks, the American pros’ resilience is clear. She openly acknowledges the gaps in her performance and remains committed to improvement. However, with a challenging draw ahead, the question now is: can she finally go all the way and lift her first trophy of the season?