Coco Gauff frequently faces scrutiny in the tennis world, but she has a loyal following of supporters, including former tennis star Andy Roddick. Roddick has long recognized Gauff’s potential and recently shared his views on her career in a refreshingly supportive tone. He highlighted the unique pressure Gauff faces, expressing frustration over the constant criticism she receives, and gave an honest perspective on her journey.
Gauff recently made headlines with a remarkable achievement, winning her first WTA Tour Finals title in Riyadh. Her journey to this victory followed a challenging period, especially after her loss at the US Open. However, she demonstrated growth and resilience by winning the 2024 China Open, reaching the semifinals at the Wuhan Open, and ultimately clinching her debut title at the WTA Finals. Despite these accomplishments, Gauff continued to face critiques, particularly regarding double faults and issues with her forehand, even as she rose to the WTA No. 3 ranking in November. Roddick, a former ATP world No. 1, recently shared his thoughts on this wave of criticism.
Since Gauff’s arrival on the professional tour, her serve and forehand have been frequent topics of criticism. She had notable challenges at the 2024 Italian Open, where she served 35 double faults over five matches, averaging about 10 per match. In another instance, she recorded 50 unforced errors against Yulia Putintseva. Later, she struggled with 19 double faults in her match against Emma Navarro at the 2024 US Open, leading to an early exit from the tournament. Such performances fueled negative commentary and doubts about her game within the tennis community.
In a recent episode of his podcast, “Served,” Roddick addressed the intense scrutiny around Gauff. He remarked, “It’s unfair for everyone to pretend that her WTA Finals win was a foregone conclusion. When Coco struggles, the criticism is swift, and when she wins, people act like it was expected. That’s not fair.” He acknowledged the concerns about her serve, forehand, and defensive skills during the US Open loss to Navarro. Roddick urged others to remember that Gauff is just 20 years old, noting that her WTA Finals victory against top players like Iga Świątek and Aryna Sabalenka demonstrates her exceptional talent and resilience.
Roddick has consistently offered balanced perspectives on Gauff’s journey. He recognized her potential early, and she validated his confidence by becoming the youngest WTA Tour Finals champion since Maria Sharapova in 2004. Her ability to turn the tables and secure such a significant title has solidified Roddick’s belief in her future accomplishments.
In the same podcast, Roddick expressed optimism for Gauff’s upcoming season. He praised her resilience, observing that she overcame her setbacks in 2024 and maintained focus to reach new heights. Roddick emphasized her impressive improvement against tough opponents like Świątek, mentioning how Gauff’s victory in this matchup, where she previously struggled, could bolster her confidence for the future. He suggested that Gauff’s hard work and determination would ultimately help her address areas of her game that have faced criticism, such as her service yips, and that he fully believes in her commitment to improvement.
Roddick views Gauff’s season-ending victories as potentially pivotal for her confidence, setting a strong foundation as she prepares for 2025. With notable wins over top-ranked players like Świątek and Sabalenka, Gauff is poised to chase the world No. 1 ranking in the coming year. Her resilience, recent successes, and renewed mindset signal that she is ready to bring even greater performances to the court in the next season.