State of the Season: How will Coco Gauff fare in the final months of 2024?

What’s at Stake

Coco Gauff now faces the most challenging time of her career. It was only 12 months ago that Gauff capped a breakthrough summer with a title run at the US Open. As this year’s Wimbledon began, she was ranked number two in the world, a full circle moment from her dazzling 2019 debut at the Championships as a 15-year-old. But by the end of the 2024 US Open, the now-20-year-old was ranked sixth.

Having won three Hologic WTA Tour singles titles in the summer of 2023, Gauff faltered before the final in each of her title defense campaigns. Most pointedly, she was beaten in the round of 16 at Wimbledon and the US Open, both times by fellow American Emma Navarro.

I expect better, but at the end of the day it happened, and I know I can turn it around. Coco Gauff

“It’s not the summer that I want,” said Gauff following her US Open defeat. “I feel like there's, like, 70 other players in the draw that would love to have the summer that I had even though it's my least probably done well during this time of the year. So many people want to be in the fourth round. So many people want to make the Olympics. So many people want to be flag bearer. It's perspective.

“Obviously because I'm wanting to reach a different level, it is disappointing, but I'm not going to beat myself up and be, like, this was so bad. I expect better, but at the end of the day it happened, and I know I can turn it around.”

Beyond short term outcomes, perhaps the more telling factor in Gauff’s present and future relates to long term process. How does a player who’s been so successful at such a young age go about the business of competing and improving effectively?

“I feel like I want to spend a good training block,” Gauff said in New York. But what will that entail? Technical issues surfaced profoundly in New York, most notably when Gauff served 19 double-faults versus Navarro—nearly a set’s worth of such miscues.

There is also the matter of Gauff’s forehand, a stroke discussed extensively enough to take up a year’s worth of teaching conferences. Added to that were Gauff’s verbalized struggles with her coaching team during several matches, perhaps leading to her decision to part ways with Brad Gilbert, the coach who led her through a Slam-winning 2023 season. This fits into a bigger issue facing contemporary pro tennis: the quest to create effective mid-match coaching techniques.

Motivation

Be it during practice, interviews, or matches, Gauff’s desire to excel is visible and relentless. Her entire career, capped by that spectacular summer effort, has vividly demonstrated what a great competitor she is. The question now becomes how Gauff will direct that motivation. It’s not easy for a seasoned pro who’s become a Top 10 mainstay to make technical changes and remain in contention for big titles. So, while we can expect Gauff to compete hard this fall, the more intriguing topic is how she will manage her off-season time—technique, tactics, coaching, and more that defines the process.

Tournaments to Watch

Gauff is entered in both Hologic WTA Tour 1000 events: the China Open in Beijing that starts on September 23—a year ago, Gauff lost in the semis to Iga Swiatek—followed by the Dongfeng Voyah Wuhan Open, that gets underway starting October 7 (Wuhan was last played in 2019).

Seeded third in Beijing, Gauff will open against either Clara Burel or Caroline Dolehide following a first-round bye.