Coco Gauff’s Clay Season Surge Raises French Open Hopes – But Doubts Linger
Coco Gauff’s tennis journey has been one of steady ascension. After winning her first junior Grand Slam title at the 2018 French Open, she reached her first senior Slam final at Roland Garros in 2022, where she broke down in tears after falling to Iga Swiatek. Now, just a year after claiming the 2023 US Open crown, Gauff is heading back to Paris—ranked No. 2 in the world—and hoping to finally clinch the French Open title. But can she truly be considered a favorite?
This clay court season has seen Gauff transform her game. While she struggled earlier in the year on hard courts, her results on clay speak volumes. She reached the quarterfinals in Stuttgart, and then made back-to-back finals appearances in Madrid and Rome. Despite losing both finals—most recently to Jasmine Paolini in Rome—her performances were strong overall. Gauff herself said she was proud of reaching the finals, though disappointed in her execution when it mattered most.
Former ATP player Steve Johnson shared his view on the “Nothing Major Show,” highlighting the shift in Gauff’s momentum. “If you look at this from a big picture,” he said, “it’s been a great couple of tournaments. She’s back on track, winning matches, competing for titles.” Still, he acknowledged Gauff is likely frustrated by her inability to close out those finals.
With a 24-8 win-loss record in 2025, Gauff is undeniably a contender. However, Johnson pointed to a key concern for top-seeded players: Iga Swiatek. Now ranked fifth, Swiatek is no longer guaranteed to avoid top seeds until the semifinals—raising the possibility of an early clash with Gauff. “I don’t think anybody really wants to play her in the QF,” Johnson said, referring to Swiatek’s four French Open titles and legendary clay-court dominance.
Gauff has a 4-11 head-to-head record against Swiatek, but she’s won their last three encounters—including a stunning 6-1, 6-1 win in the Madrid semifinals. Still, Gauff is cautious about reading too much into that. “If I were to play her at the French Open, I would throw away the results in Madrid,” she said, emphasizing respect for Swiatek’s track record in Paris.
While Gauff’s game is improving, one issue persists: her serve. At the 2025 Italian Open, she committed a staggering 42 double faults, including 16 in her semifinal win over Qinwen Zheng. That flaw has triggered concerns among analysts like Rick Macci, Andy Roddick, Jim Courier, and Jimmy Connors. On his podcast, Connors suggested Gauff’s team must confront the issue directly: “They need to be honest with her. Too many free points are being given away.”
That flaw has led some to question her title chances. Tennis commentator Prakash Amritraj even favored rising star Peyton Stearns over Gauff as a potential French Open champion. Despite this, Gauff remains optimistic. Speaking about her outlook, she said, “It’s both confidence and motivation. Hopefully, the ‘third time is a charm’ thing is real. I’ve made two finals without playing my best—so if I can peak in Paris, I believe I can go all the way.”
With her improved form, a stronger mindset, and lessons from past defeats, Gauff is approaching the French Open with renewed purpose. The big question remains: can she overcome her serving demons and withstand the Iga challenge if it comes? Only time will tell, but fans have every reason to believe that the third time might just be the charm.