Coco Gauff has emphasized the importance of avoiding burnout, making it clear that she wants to retire on her own terms rather than being forced out by injury. This perspective is particularly relevant given the demanding nature of the WTA Tour, where players compete almost year-round with little time for rest and recovery. As the former US Open champion prepares for her homecoming at the Miami Open, she is shedding light on another challenge in professional tennis: the lack of time for self-reflection.
A Relentless Schedule
Despite it being only March, Gauff has already participated in four tournaments in 2025, or five if the United Cup is included. Last season, she endured a similarly grueling schedule, playing in 19 tournaments, including the Paris Olympics, and securing three titles. She competed in 71 matches throughout the year, achieving a 76% win rate (54-17), a testament to her relentless dedication. This season appears to be following the same pattern. After beginning the year at the United Cup, she moved on to the Australian Open, the Middle East swing, and most recently, Indian Wells, before arriving in Miami for the next leg of her campaign.
Ahead of her opening match at the Miami Open, Gauff was asked how she manages to reflect on her performance amid such a hectic schedule. She responded with honesty, admitting that self-reflection is often overlooked in the fast-paced world of professional tennis. “It’s great to be back here. Like I said, I love this tournament, home tournament, and I guess tennis is like a crazy sport—you really never have time to reflect because when you win, you’re already going to the next tournament. But I guess that’s something I probably need to sit down and do. Usually, I do that on my birthday, but I was a bit busy. Overall, I am very happy with my career so far. I am a very ‘creature mindset’ person, so there is a lot that I do,” she shared.
Balancing On-Court and Off-Court Responsibilities
Being the top-seeded American on the WTA Tour extends beyond just winning matches—it also comes with numerous off-court obligations. Even during rare breaks between tournaments, Gauff remains busy with sponsorships and promotional commitments. Recently, after competing at the BNP Paribas Open, she launched her new “Coco Delray” collection in collaboration with Joe Robinson and New Balance.
Beyond tennis and endorsements, Gauff has personal interests she wants to pursue. In 2023, she shared her desire to take cooking lessons but had to put those plans on hold due to her demanding tennis schedule. At the time, she expressed excitement about finally getting the opportunity, writing, “I had fun training so I can pretend to be a chef in The Bear lol. Can’t wait to use what I learned and make food for my family! Thank you @stephan.dalsoglio for the gift, and thank you @thecookingclubhouse for letting us reschedule a million times because of my match schedule.”
Struggles and Adjustments in 2025
Despite her strong finish to 2024, where she won the WTA Finals, Gauff has faced challenges early in 2025. While she started the year on a high note by winning the United Cup, she suffered three consecutive defeats: a quarterfinal loss to Paula Badosa at the Australian Open, an early exit against Marta Kostyuk in Qatar, and another loss to McCartney Kessler in Dubai. At Indian Wells, she showed promise but was eliminated in the Round of 16 by Belinda Bencic, the Abu Dhabi champion.
Reflecting on these setbacks, Gauff admitted she is not satisfied with her recent results but remains optimistic about her future. “I’m obviously not happy with those past results, but in the history of my career, I’ve had ups and downs. I still feel like I have a couple more years before I reach that point where every week is a great week. I’m also in the middle of changes in my game, and it’s been difficult,” she explained.
She also acknowledged the heightened scrutiny that comes with being a top-ranked player. “It is tough sometimes when everyone says, ‘Oh, (lost) two matches in a row,’ and things like that,” she said. “Because if I wasn’t a top-five player, it probably wouldn’t even be a conversation. That comes with being at the top. You’re expected to win, and I expect myself to win as well.”
Miami Open Challenge
Gauff has yet to progress beyond the fourth round at the Miami Open, holding a 6-5 record at the tournament. She now faces Sofia Kenin, a former Australian Open champion, in her opening match. The two players have met four times, splitting their head-to-head record at 2-2. However, Gauff recently defeated Kenin in Melbourne, which could give her an edge heading into this match.
With home-court advantage and a recent victory over her opponent, Gauff will be looking to make a deep run in Miami. Will she be able to build momentum and turn her season around?That remains to be seen.