Coco Gauff has always emphasized her faith as a guiding force in her career. After winning the 2023 US Open, the then-19-year-old openly shared that she doesn’t pray for results but for the strength to give her best effort. Even after her early Wimbledon exit that year, she credited her faith and church community for helping her refocus and win the Washington, D.C. tournament. Despite earning $34.4 million in 2024, Gauff remains deeply committed to her faith, taking time for reflection before major events like the Qatar Open.
Faith has played a significant role in her journey. In a 2019 interview, she revealed that she and her father have prayed together before every match since she was eight years old—not for victory, but for safety. Following her quarterfinal loss at the Australian Open, she shared an image of herself engaging in Bible study while preparing for the Qatar Open, reinforcing how she balances her spiritual and professional life.
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However, while faith has helped her stay grounded, technical improvements are still necessary for continued success. After parting ways with coach Brad Gilbert, she teamed up with technique specialist Matt Daly, a move that quickly paid off with titles at the China Open and the WTA Finals in Riyadh.
Serena Williams’ former coach, Rick Macci, believes Gauff has unlimited potential but still needs to refine her second serve and forehand to add more Grand Slam titles to her record. He suggested that adjusting her biomechanics could significantly enhance her game. Gauff herself acknowledges that she has more work to do following her Australian Open exit.
As the third seed in the upcoming Doha event, she receives a first-round bye and is set to face either Marta Kostyuk or Zeynep Sonmez in the Round of 32 on February 11. With both faith and technical adjustments in play, Gauff’s next challenge will be to build on her recent progress and maintain her rise in the WTA rankings.