Coco Gauff has always been considered one of the premier talents in the world of tennis, and when she won the US Open in 2023, she finally confirmed her status as one. There were still those who doubted the American, wondering how convincing that performance was, and when she failed to repeat it soon after, many started questioning her ability.
She won the WTA Finals last year and has now added a second Grand Slam to her tally. By doing so, she officially removed the one-hit-wonder descriptor from her name, and now it’s not about whether she can win another Grand Slam but rather how many she can win.
Winning the 2025 French Open
Trending
It was a problematic match for both because there was a ridiculous amount of wind, which impacted both the serve and any shot in general. Neither Sabalenka nor Gauff liked it, but Gauff was able to adjust better to it as she displayed more composure.
Sabalenka, with her power, struggled with rallies and never quite found the rhythm, which caused her to make too many mistakes in crucial moments. She had chances to win and took the opening set, but ultimately Gauff did what she does so well—grinding out wins.
The American especially remained calm, which had been an issue for her in the past. Nerves were something she battled, but now she seems like she’s finally the champion she could have always become. This is another big final where she was the better player, ultimately and deservedly won, so now it’s about the future.
Being only 21 means that there are many more years of tennis ahead of Gauff, and even now at 21, the American is one of the most experienced players on tour, thanks to her WTA debut at 15. So, what does the future hold for Coco Gauff?
What is the ceiling for Coco Gauff?
The ceiling for Coco Gauff now is to become one of the best players in history. Now, you might think that saying this is hyperbolic, but it’s not. She was famously compared to Serena Williams not because she played similarly or because she’s African American, but rather because she has that talent.
It was evident from the early goings of her career that she was destined for greatness. The unknown was how much time she would need to get there and how quickly the progression would be. Initially, it seemed to happen quickly, as she was still a teenager doing amazing things.
Then she hit a wall for a while, but after winning the US Open, things have slowly but surely worked out. Now she’s up to two Grand Slam trophies at age 21, and there's over a decade or more of tennis to come.
Does this mean that she will win 10+ Grand Slams? Well, there's no guarantee, because she will have to work hard for it. What separates the legendary tennis players from the great ones or the above-average ones is the caliber to work hard for a very long time.
Novak Djokovic is 20 years into his professional career at the highest level, and he’s still tweaking his game and perfecting his craft. That sort of dedication is what Gauff will need to stay on top, but it hasn’t been a problem so far. Yes, she took a long time to really adjust to some things and arguably coasted on her athleticism for far too long, but slowly and surely, the American superstar is putting things together.
Combined with her natural athleticism, which is arguably the greatest we’ve seen in any player in a long time, you’ve got a player who could end up being the best, not only of her generation but one of the best there's ever been.
She’ll need a bit of luck; she’ll need all of what follows these legendary players, but the ceiling is barely quantifiable. She’s not the next Serena, and she may not hit that number, but she offers promise. That’s the thing—she’s got that potential. And how can you quantify her potential? You can’t.
We can simply observe what happens and enjoy the ride because she’s here and she’s not going to stop. The era of Coco Gauff has heralded, and it’s going to last a long time. Whether she’s number one or not, she’s going to be a threat at each Grand Slam moving forward because she is arguably a legend in the making.
