Coco Gauff is entering the 2025 Australian Open with remarkable confidence following significant improvements to her game. Eurosport expert Laura Robson praised the transformation in Gauff’s performance, highlighting her impressive start to the season at the United Cup, where she showcased her enhanced skills.
Last summer, Gauff faced a rough patch, winning just one match in the Toronto and Cincinnati tournaments before her US Open title defense ended in the round of 16. However, a coaching change—parting ways with Brad Gilbert and bringing in Matt Daly—sparked a resurgence in her form. Gauff closed the season with 13 victories from 15 matches and triumphed over both Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek to win the WTA Finals. She carried that momentum into 2025, earning the MVP title at the United Cup by winning all five of her matches, including a victory over Swiatek.
united cup champions ❤️🇺🇸🦅 #diggingdeep #shovelsout pic.twitter.com/x7A4g5sIyD
— Coco Gauff (@CocoGauff) January 6, 2025
Robson emphasized that Gauff’s confidence is evident. “She already looks incredibly confident,” Robson noted, particularly in her match against Swiatek. Despite losing to Swiatek 11 times in their previous 13 encounters, Gauff showcased significant improvements in her game. Her forehand, which was once considered a weakness, is now more reliable, and her exceptional movement makes her a formidable opponent. Robson described Gauff as a “completely different player” from her form during the US Open, placing her among the favorites for a Grand Slam title again. Gauff reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open last year, where she lost to eventual champion Sabalenka.
Alongside Gauff, Iga Swiatek is also considered a contender for this year’s Australian Open title, aiming to stop Sabalenka from achieving a third consecutive win. Swiatek has yet to find consistent success in Melbourne, with her best performance being a semi-final appearance in 2022. However, Robson sees encouraging signs of progress in Swiatek’s game. She noted that Swiatek has been working on controlling the pace of matches, particularly against players with powerful hitting styles. Swiatek’s match against Elena Rybakina at the United Cup showcased her ability to maintain her own playing style rather than adapting to her opponent’s.
Swiatek also enters the tournament with a new coach, Wim Fissette, who has previously worked with top players such as Naomi Osaka, Victoria Azarenka, and Johanna Konta. According to Robson, Fissette’s expertise has already brought visible changes to Swiatek’s forehand and serve, designed to enhance her performance on faster courts. These adjustments aim to make Swiatek more competitive on hard courts, complementing her proven dominance on clay.
With both Gauff and Swiatek making significant strides, the competition for the Australian Open title is expected to be fierce as players look to challenge Sabalenka’s reign.