As the 2025 French Open unfolds on the red clay of Roland Garros, Coco Gauff, the World No. 2 and 2023 US Open champion, has emerged not only as a formidable contender but also as a voice of wisdom for the next generation of tennis stars. On June 2, after securing her place in the quarterfinals with a commanding 6-0, 7-5 victory over Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova, the 21-year-old American offered a poignant reality check to 18-year-old Czech qualifier Tereza Valentova, the ATP’s teenage sensation who captivated fans with her fearless play earlier in the tournament. Gauff’s words, delivered with the poise of a seasoned veteran, underscored the pressures of early success and the resilience needed to navigate the sport’s relentless spotlight.
Gauff’s journey at this year’s French Open has been a masterclass in focus and adaptability. Her straight-sets win over Alexandrova marked her fifth consecutive year reaching the Roland Garros quarterfinals, a feat that places her among the elite, as she became the youngest player to achieve five women’s singles quarterfinals at a single major since Venus Williams in 2001. The match showcased Gauff’s relentless groundstrokes and improved clay-court movement, dispatching the 20th seed in just over an hour. The first set was a 29-minute demolition, with Gauff dropping only five points across the first five games. The second set tested her resolve, but she rallied to close it out 7-5, earning a standing ovation from the Court Philippe-Chatrier crowd. “Overall it was fine,” Gauff reflected post-match, critiquing her performance with characteristic humility. “A little bit towards the end of the second, I could have been more aggressive with the serve, but the return game I felt was really good.”
Her opponent in the second round, Valentova, had pushed Gauff to the brink in a 6-2, 6-4 battle, breaking her serve five times and showcasing the fearless aggression that earned her the 2024 French Open junior title. Despite the loss, Valentova’s performance against the No. 2 seed marked her as a rising star, drawing comparisons to Gauff’s own meteoric rise at 15, when she stunned Venus Williams at Wimbledon. Reflecting on Valentova’s potential, Gauff offered sage advice, drawing from her own experience under the weight of early expectations. “I feel like for me it felt harder just because I felt like in my game and maturity-wise I was nowhere near ready to win one (Grand Slam) in the early ages, like being a teenager, but everyone expected it because of that hype train around it,” she said. “It’s all situational for me. I think it just depends on when you first came on tour how much quote-unquote hype it is, if the player’s able to knock all that out, because it is tough to sometimes.”
Gauff’s empathy stems from her own journey. At 15, she became the youngest Wimbledon qualifier in the Open Era, reaching the fourth round in 2019. By 19, she clinched the 2023 US Open, becoming the first American teenager to win the title since Serena Williams in 1999. Yet, the pressure of being labeled a “teenage icon” has been a double-edged sword. “She was already being talked about as a future major winner, just nobody thought it was going to happen at 17 at that US Open,” former WTA pro Pam Shriver once said of Serena Williams, a sentiment that resonates with Gauff’s own path. Gauff’s candid admission about the burden of expectations serves as a warning to Valentova: talent alone isn’t enough; mental fortitude is critical. “She’s obviously a great, young player, so I knew it was going to be a tough match,” Gauff noted, praising Valentova’s resilience despite the Czech’s 16 winners and bold baseline play.
As Gauff prepares for her quarterfinal clash against compatriot Madison Keys, a seven-time Grand Slam quarterfinalist and recent Australian Open champion, she carries the hopes of American tennis fans dreaming of a first women’s French Open title since Serena Williams in 2015. Keys, who holds a 3-2 edge over Gauff, including a clay-court win in Madrid last year, offered high praise: “I remember meeting Coco for the first time. She was so young and I knew that she was going to be pretty dominant pretty quickly. Even to this day, I’m always so impressed by the way that she handles the pressure and all of it at such a young age.” The matchup promises to be a blockbuster, with Gauff’s defensive prowess and speed pitted against Keys’ powerful groundstrokes.
Gauff’s journey at Roland Garros has also been marked by lighthearted moments, like her first-round racket mishap against Olivia Gadecki, where she walked onto court without her rackets, prompting laughter from the crowd. “Honestly, I thought they put the rackets in the bag,” she quipped, blaming her superstitious coach. Yet, these moments of levity underscore her ability to stay grounded amid the hype. As she navigates the pressures of stardom and mentors emerging talents like Valentova, Gauff’s message is clear: embrace the grind, tune out the noise, and let your game do the talking. With a potential semifinal showdown looming against top seed Iga Swiatek, who has dominated their rivalry 11-1, Gauff’s focus remains unwavering, proving she’s not just a champion but a guiding light for the next generation.
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