Coco Gauff

Coco Gauff is one of those rare talents that comes along once in a generation. She won the 2023 US Open at just 19 years of age, but honestly, the signs were there long before that. Remember Wimbledon 2019? A 15-year-old qualifier walking out and defeating Venus Williams — the whole tennis world stopped and took notice. Since then, Gauff has developed into a genuinely complete player, combining powerful serving with excellent court coverage, a strong return game, and increasingly sophisticated tactical play.

Her Australian Open record includes a final appearance in 2024, where she fell to Aryna Sabalenka but showed everyone that she absolutely belongs at the top on hard courts. Under coach Brad Gilbert, her game has evolved significantly — the forehand now has genuine penetration, the net game has become a real weapon, and the speed and athleticism remain among the best in the women’s game.

Beyond the on-court stuff, Gauff has become one of the most important voices in sport, using her platform to advocate for social justice and youth empowerment. Her maturity and eloquence genuinely belie her age. She carries the weight of enormous expectation with grace and determination, and Australian fans appreciate that combination of talent, character, and competitive fire.

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Player Profile

Coco Gauff is the future of women’s tennis and already one of its present-day stars. Her Australian Open final appearance showed she can contend for the title in Melbourne, and her continued improvement across every aspect of her game suggests multiple Grand Slam titles lie ahead. She enters 2026 as one of the favourites, and honestly, it feels like a matter of when, not if.

NC — Staff sports writer, australiafootball.com