Coco Gauff made a stunning comeback by the end of her 2024 season. She kicked off the year with a title in Auckland but faced a tough stretch until her breakthrough at the China Open in October. There, she dominated Karoliina Muchova in the final, winning 6-1, 6-3 in just over an hour. Gauff continued her impressive run in the WTA Finals by defeating top players like Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka, ultimately clinching the title against Qinwen Zheng. Her comeback after the rough patch this season has been well-noted by analysts and speculators alike.

On Rennae Stubbs’ podcast, former German WTA star Andrea Petkovic talked about the players she was excited to follow in the upcoming season and Gauff was one of the players she mentioned. “I’m very excited for Coco Gauff’s 2025 season because I really liked what I saw at the end of the year,” Petkovic said. Gauff recently underwent a significant transformation in her game. She started working with Matt Daly ahead of the Asian swing in September. Petkovic noted, “With the coaching change and the fricking grip change in the middle of the season on her serve.” Since teaming up with Daly in September, Gauff’s performance has skyrocketed. Many attribute this improvement to Daly’s guidance.

Daly, who previously coached Denis Shapovalov, specializes in footwork and grip technique. This insight might have been exactly what Gauff needed to elevate her game. Petkovic expressed her admiration, stating she was “super impressed” by Gauff’s progress on the court. Looking ahead, Gauff is already on the practice courts for preseason training. The 20-year-old is poised for an exciting year ahead. And it’s not only Petovic who has the confidence in Gauff’s potential for 2025.

Jonathan Overend praises Coco’s resilience “at such a young age”

During her mid-season struggles, many speculated about Coco Gauff’s strategy and suggested changes to her game. On Monday, during the Sky Sports Tennis podcast, journalist Jonathan Overend reflected on her difficult time, saying, “A period of relative disappointment. The world has started picking apart her game, telling her what she’s doing wrong.”

He noted that Gauff took the feedback seriously, making adjustments that led to her immediate success in Beijing. After a disappointing early exit from the US Open against Emma Navarro, Gauff rallied to defeat Paula Badosa in the semifinals and then overpowered Karolina Muchova in the final with a decisive 6-1, 6-3 victory. “And what happens? She makes those—she knows that. She makes some changes, she comes back, she wins Beijing. Like, straight away,” Overend added.

Gauff effectively implemented his advice during critical matches, particularly at the WTA Finals. Overend highlighted that this was Gauff’s third consecutive appearance at the WTA Finals as the youngest player. At just 20 years of age, she has already amassed nine career titles, including a Grand Slam win at the 2023 US Open. She currently ranks No. 3 in the WTA standings.

Overend emphasized her potential for further growth, stating, “It’s just the resilience of this player is so great at such a young age.” Now as Gauff prepares for the 2025 season, many are eager to see if she can reach new heights with her A-game. Do you agree?