Coco Gauff had struggled for form over recent months before bouncing back with a strong showing in Madrid.
The American star ended 2024 on a high, when Gauff beat Qinwen Zheng to clinch the WTA Finals title in Saudi Arabia.
Many predicted big things for Gauff in 2025 off the back of such an impressive victory, but that hadn’t quite materialized during the early months of the season.
The 21-year-old held a fairly uninspiring 14-6 record heading into the 2025 Madrid Open, having failed to reach a tour-level semi-final all year.
Bouncing back in the Spanish capital, she stormed into the final, where Gauff lost to Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets, 3-6, 5-7.
Post-match, one American WTA Tour legend gave her verdict on Gauff’s run to the final in Madrid.
Tracy Austin says Coco Gauff took a ‘huge step’ forward with Madrid Open final appearance
Speaking on the Tennis Channel after the final, two-time US Open champion Tracy Austin explained why Gauff should take the positives from her stint in Spain, despite losing the final.
“I think this was a huge step for Coco Gauff, to beat [Belinda] Bencic, to beat [Iga] Swiatek for the first time on clay, and the way that she did it, in 64 minutes, 6-1, 6-1,” said Austin.
“The better forehand, where she is driving through the ball, not off her back foot so frequently. Serving for the most part much better, particularly against Iga.”
The world number four’s serve held firm as Gauff handed Swiatek her worst clay court defeat since 2019 in their semi-final match.
Austin did, however, note that Gauff’s serve dropped off dramatically during her loss to Sabalenka in the final.
“The first serve percentage dropped today, and that led to all of those other stats where she was struggling on the second serve,” she said.
“When you give [Aryna] Sabalenka so many looks at second serves, it is going to make for a problematic serving day.
“Disappointing for Coco that she wasn’t able to take that second set, but overall a big uptick.”
| Match | Aces | Double faults | First serve % | Win % on first serve | Win % on second serve |
| Final v Aryna Sabalenka | 2 | 8 | 55% | 57% | 53% |
| Semi-final v Iga Swiatek | 6 | 1 | 66% | 60% | 75% |
She will surely be hoping to sort out her serving woes ahead of her return to action in Rome next week.
Could Coco Gauff win her first WTA title of the season at the Italian Open?
Gauff will now travel east, as she prepares for the Italian Open, a tournament she’s enjoyed success at over the years.
Twice a semi-finalist in Rome, Gauff has a 71% winning record at the event, her third-best across all ten WTA 1000 tournaments.
| Tournament | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Win % |
| Qatar Open | – | – | – | QF | – | 2R | 2R | 50% |
| Dubai Open | – | – | QF | – | SF | QF | 2R | 64% |
| Indian Wells | – | – | 3R | 3R | QF | SF | 4R | 69% |
| Miami Open | 2R | – | 2R | 4R | 3R | 4R | 4R | 57% |
| Madrid Open | – | – | 1R | 3R | 3R | 4R | F | 56% |
| Italian Open | – | 2R | SF | 3R | 3R | SF | – | 71% |
| Canadian Open | – | – | QF | QF | QF | 3R | – | 67% |
| Cincinnati Open | – | 1R | 2R | 1R | W | 2R | – | 60% |
| China Open | – | – | – | – | SF | W | – | 91% |
| Wuhan Open | – | – | – | – | SF | – | 75% |
Gauff lost to Swiatek, 4-6, 3-6, in the semi-finals of last year’s Italian Open, narrowly missing out on a place in the final.
Heading to Italy as the number four seed, Gauff will be looking for an even better showing in 2025 against a strong field.
Top eight seed at the 2025 Italian Open
- 1. Aryna Sabalenka
- 2. Iga Swiatek
- 3. Jessica Pegula
- 4. Coco Gauff
- 5. Madison Keys
- 6. Jasmine Paolini
- 7. Mirra Andreeva
- 8. Qinwen Zheng
Swiatek, a three-time champion in Rome, would be the obvious pick, although her shaky 2025 form has many questioning her title-winning credentials.
With that in mind, and off the back of her win in Madrid, it could well be Sabalenka who comes away with the trophy, as she seeks revenge having lost in last year’s final to her Polish rival.
Or it could well be Gauff who wins in Rome, finally getting over the line to win a ‘big’ clay court title.
Only time will tell who will lift the Italian Open trophy, but it’ll certainly be worth a watch when the action gets underway on Monday, May 5.
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