Coco Gauff has now reached a WTA career-high rank of number two in the world following the French Open.
World number one Iga Swiatek may have lifted the trophy in Paris, but Gauff’s strong showing has boosted her up one place in the rankings.
It has been a stunning rise from the 20-year-old star, who made it to the singles semi-finals at Roland Garros.
Her fine run was brought to an end by the unstoppable Swiatek, although Gauff did leave with silverware as she won the women’s doubles.
Playing alongside Katerina Siniakova, the American celebrated her first doubles title, defeating Jasmine Paolini and Sara Errani 7-6(7-5), 6-3.
Andy Roddick rages at the advice given to Coco Gauff
But it is undoubtedly her singles career that Gauff will be prioritising in the years to come, with the American currently seeking her second Grand Slam singles title.
Gauff linked up with former men’s world number one Andy Roddick in the offseason in a bid to improve her serving in particular, with the latter explaining during the French Open that her second serve was an issue.
The 2003 US Open champion has now analysed another aspect of her game, and has expressed his frustration at those who have tried and failed to pinpoint Gauff’s major problem.
“Any surface that is quicker, where Coco’s backhand can get through the court, maybe she can be first serve dominant,” Roddick said on the Served with Andy Roddick podcast.
“I have seen with my own eyes in practice, Coco go through a hopper of balls, hitting 125mph consistently, not missing any serves.
“She has the ability to become a dominant server I think. She has struggled at times, and it goes in waves where she can be streaky.
“In Australia she was hitting 12 aces a match, winning 90% of her first serve points and not double-faulting.
“The thing she has to solve is traffic going to her forehand side, people say she needs to step in and flatten out her forehand. That’s just not her shot shape. I hate solutions that aren’t based on reality.”
Coco Gauff helps make WTA and ATP history
Gauff is part of a new generation of tennis stars, across both the ATP and WTA, with the youngsters making their mark in Paris.
Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz occupy spots one and two respectively in the former, with Swiatek and Gauff in places one and two respectively in the latter.
The quartet have now made history after the latest rankings were announced, with this week marking the first time that the top two players in the men’s and women’s game were all born in the 2000s.
World number ones Sinner and Swiatek were both born in 2001, with Alcaraz born in 2003 and Gauff born in 2004.
Their focus now turns to the grass season, with Wimbledon – the third major of the year – rapidly approaching.
Gauff will be desperate to improve upon her record in the competition, having failed to make it past the fourth round.
A particularly disappointing first round exit was suffered in 2023, with Gauff losing to fellow American Sofia Kenin.
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