Coco Gauff’s Vision for a Dream Tennis Tournament Amidst Her Indian Wells Campaign
After a less-than-ideal start to the season, third seed Coco Gauff arrives at Indian Wells determined to turn things around. She describes the event as a “paradise of competition,” a fitting description of one of the most prestigious venues in professional tennis. Indian Wells is known for its dramatic weather contrasts—scorching days followed by chilly desert nights—along with the occasional, unexpected rain showers in early March that can momentarily halt play.
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The Indian Wells Tennis Garden is an architectural marvel, housing the world’s second-largest outdoor tennis stadium, Stadium 1, which seats 16,100 fans, alongside the impressive 8,000-seat Stadium 2. Covering 54 acres, the venue boasts 29 regulation hard courts, top-tier fitness and locker room facilities, and a luxurious members’ lounge. More than just a tennis hub, Indian Wells hosts the BNP Paribas Open, the biggest combined men’s and women’s tournament in the sport.
However, Gauff has a different vision for her ideal tournament—one that could potentially redefine the sport’s atmosphere. Recently, she shared her concept for a dream event during an interview with Brody from Broadcast Boys. Displaying her creativity and charisma, the 2023 US Open champion outlined a high-energy, star-studded tournament set in Atlanta. The event would feature a bold aesthetic with purple and black courts, a $10 million grand prize, and a dynamic atmosphere fueled by celebrity presence. Gauff imagined Zendaya as a courtside guest, with music by Childish Gambino setting the tone.
She even came up with a name for her tournament: “The Hot Girl Slam.” It would be a fast-paced, electrifying three-day competition beginning at the quarterfinal stage, incorporating doubles matches to keep things engaging. To add to the entertainment, Tyler, the Creator, would serve as the event’s color commentator, ensuring an exciting experience both on and off the court.
Gauff wasn’t the only one to engage in this creative exercise. Current top seed Aryna Sabalenka also joined in, taking her vision to another level by jokingly proposing an astronomical $8 billion prize pool for her dream tournament in California. Such a figure would send shockwaves through the sport.
As the BNP Paribas Open unfolds, Gauff faces a crucial moment in her season. After a remarkable late-2024 run—where she claimed titles at the China Open and the WTA Finals—her recent performances have not lived up to expectations. She suffered three consecutive straight-set defeats, starting with a quarterfinal exit at the Australian Open to Paula Badosa, followed by losses to Marta Kostyuk at the Qatar Open (6-2, 7-5) and McCartney Kessler at the Dubai Open (6-4, 7-5).
Despite this rough patch, Gauff remains focused and confident. Speaking at a pre-match press conference, she downplayed the concerns surrounding her form:
“I don’t know, everybody makes a bigger deal than what it is… I lost two matches. I’ll lose more matches back to back, it’s going to happen. To me, for me, I guess it feels like a month but it’s just two tournaments, and at this calendar, I have so many other opportunities, and I can’t win every match. Hopefully, it doesn’t happen too many times in my career. You know the results will come. It’s, you know, just normal, I think.”
Gauff has already secured a straight-set victory over British player Emma Raducanu in her opening match at Indian Wells. Her next challenge comes against Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima. With her determination unwavering, can she go all the way and claim the title in California?