Coco Gauff is entering the 2024 Australian Open with strong momentum after a series of impressive performances, including her recent victory at the United Cup. Determined to secure her first Grand Slam title, Gauff’s path to victory, however, is filled with challenges, as the tournament’s draw presents a tough journey ahead.
Gauff begins her campaign with a match against compatriot Sofia Kenin, a player she has faced three times, winning only once, with her most recent loss to Kenin coming in January 2023. Gauff has shown significant growth since then, and she will face either a qualifier or Jodie Anna Burrage in the second round, a player she previously defeated in Eastbourne in 2023. If she advances to the third round, she will likely meet Leylah Fernandez, a player Gauff has a 1-0 lead against. The fourth round could bring a potential matchup with either Karolina Muchova or Jelena Ostapenko. Gauff leads the head-to-head record against both but will have to contend with Muchova’s rise in the past season and their challenging encounter at the China Open.
Should Gauff make it through to the quarterfinals, she is likely to face Jessica Pegula, who has a 4-2 advantage over Gauff in their head-to-head encounters. Pegula has beaten Gauff at crucial moments, such as in the semifinals of the 2023 WTA Finals and during a major clash in Berlin. If Gauff manages to overcome this obstacle, her next challenge could be Aryna Sabalenka in the semifinals. Though Gauff holds a 5-4 head-to-head lead, Sabalenka has been a tough opponent, particularly after defeating Gauff at the 2023 Australian Open semifinals and the Wuhan Open, where Gauff struggled with 21 double faults.
Coco’s road to #TwoInMelb2urne
R1 – 🇺🇸 Kenin
R2 – Q/LL/ 🇬🇧 Burrage
R3 – 🇨🇦 Fernandez
R4 – 🇨🇿 Muchova / 🇱🇻 Ostapenko
QF – 🇺🇸 Pegula
SF – 🏳️ Sabalenka
F – 🇵🇱 Swiatek pic.twitter.com/YewCJKdlku— 💜 (@VenusGauff) January 9, 2025
If Gauff can navigate these tough matches and reach the final, she will likely face Iga Swiatek for the title. Gauff and Swiatek have met 14 times, with Gauff winning only three encounters, though she managed to beat Swiatek in their last two meetings at the WTA Finals and United Cup. Despite Gauff’s recent confidence, Swiatek’s determination will pose a formidable challenge. Nevertheless, Gauff’s confidence is undeniable as she heads into the tournament.
Gauff’s recent successes, including winning the China Open and the WTA Finals, have boosted her confidence going into the Australian Open. After winning all her matches at the United Cup, she is poised and ready to face the challenges ahead. Gauff expressed her optimism, saying that her strong start to the season gives her a lot of confidence, and when she plays with self-belief, her game improves significantly.
Experts, including Andy Roddick, also believe in Gauff’s potential for a breakthrough year. Roddick feels that Gauff is entering the season with a lighter mindset and a clear path ahead, ready to overcome any obstacles that arise. As the Australian Open progresses, it will be fascinating to see if Gauff can maintain her dominant form and claim her first Grand Slam title.