“I Just Want Another Slam,” Coco Gauff Zones In on Her Grand Slam Target as Securing the Top Spot Remains Secondary

The day Coco Gauff sealed her first Grand Slam was unforgettable. After a shaky start, losing the first set 2-6, she showed incredible resilience and maturity. Gauff rallied to win the next two sets 6-3, 6-2, clinching a historic victory on home soil against Aryna Sabalenka. As she dropped to the floor in disbelief, Patrick McEnroe’s commentary, “Get up, Coco Gauff! You’ve just won the US Open!” captured the moment perfectly. It’s a memory many will never forget- especially her. Coco hopes to relive a moment like that again!

Now competing at the Italian Open, Gauff recently defeated Emma Raducanu in straight sets, 6-1, 6-2. This win not only secured her a quarterfinal spot but also ensured she returned to the No. 2 spot in the World rankings. At 21, she matches her career-high, having been in the Top 10 for three years. She briefly reached No. 2 last summer but wasn’t able to hold onto it for long.

After the match, Gauff told Tennis Channel she’s not focused on the No. 1 ranking held by Aryna Sabalenka. “It’s not really that much in my mind because I just want another slam, so honestly, it’s not something that I think about. But honestly, it’s something I want to touch in my career and maintain, too. So, yeah, it’s definitely something that I want to do. But it’s not fully in my mind; I’d rather take away some more trophies, Slam trophies. But that obviously will come if I can win.” Her priority remains winning more Grand Slam trophies.

Coco Gauff’s last close shot at the French Open was in 2022 when she reached the final and lost to Iga Swiatek. She met Swiatek again in last year’s semis but fell short once more. Since then, she hasn’t advanced far in majors, including a quarterfinal exit at this year’s Australian Open. However, her form is improving. After early struggles in Qatar, Dubai, Indian Wells, Miami, and Stuttgart, she reached the Madrid Open final.

Talking about world rankings, Aryna Sabalenka currently leads the chart with 11,118 points, 4,515 points ahead of Gauff. While the Italian Open performance might narrow that gap, Gauff insists dethroning Sabalenka isn’t her main goal. On the eve of her birthday, she said, “I’ve never been a rankings girl. Really, I want to just win Grand Slams. My dad always said, ‘the number, the ranking will come with the Slams’.” She added, “If I win a Slam this year and don’t become number one, I will be satisfied. I’ll be more satisfied than if I became number one and didn’t win a Slam.”

So, will Coco secure another Grand Slam at the French Open? Former American pro Steve Johnson believes she might.

Steve Johnson backs Coco Gauff to win Roland Garros

Steve Johnson recently shared his thoughts on Coco Gauff’s chances at the 2025 French Open during the Nothing Major Show. This season, Gauff holds a 19-7 win-loss record, though John Isner pointed out her form has been uneven. Despite that, she reached the final of the Madrid Open and climbed back into the Top 3. Still, the 21-year-old hasn’t clinched a title this year yet.

Johnson is optimistic. “I think Coco has…I mean, she definitely has a chance..I mean, she’s one of, if not the best, competitor, and I think the most mentally kind of like stable, you know, week in and week out, day in and day out on the women’s side. I mean, she shows up and she competes,” he said. “When she steps on court, she never seems to have any attitude issues… she goes out there to compete.” That competitive spirit, Johnson says, is key in tennis.

While Sam Querrey and Jack Sock have ruled out Coco’s chances this year, Johnson sees Gauff as “the third favorite to get to a French Open title.” He explained that if top contenders like Iga Swiatek or Sabalenka exit early, it could open the door for Gauff to make a deep run. The permutations of the draw could work in her favor.

Before the French Open, there’s still the Italian Open to watch. Gauff is gearing up for a quarterfinal clash against Mirra Andreeva. Will she keep the momentum going and push far in Rome? Share your thoughts below!