In a stunning upset at the 2025 Berlin Open, world No. 2 Coco Gauff suffered a straight-sets defeat to Chinese qualifier Wang Xinyu, marking a rocky start to her grass-court season just weeks after her French Open triumph. The 6-3, 6-3 loss in the second round, a warm-up for Wimbledon, sent shockwaves through the tennis world, but former top-10 player CoCo Vandeweghe offered a surprising perspective on the setback. Speaking on a Tennis Channel podcast, Vandeweghe suggested that the early defeat could be a blessing in disguise for the 21-year-old star, providing a critical wake-up call as she prepares for the All England Club, where she has yet to advance beyond the fourth round.
Gauff, fresh off her second Grand Slam title at Roland Garros, where she outlasted Aryna Sabalenka in a thrilling three-set final, struggled to adapt to the slick grass courts of Berlin. Facing Wang, ranked No. 49, Gauff amassed 25 unforced errors and seven double faults, a stark contrast to her clay-court dominance. Wang, seizing the moment, struck 16 winners and capitalized on Gauff’s errors to secure the biggest win of her career. “After I won the first set, I just told myself, ‘OK, let’s take a minute and enjoy this, I’m playing the French Open champion,’” Wang said in her on-court interview. “No matter how the second and third go, I was like, ‘OK, let’s just enjoy it for a second.’” Her aggressive returns and steady serving overwhelmed Gauff, who briefly led 3-1 in the second set before Wang reeled off five consecutive games to seal the victory.
Vandeweghe, a two-time Rosmalen Grass Court Championships winner known for her own prowess on grass, argued that the loss could refocus Gauff for Wimbledon, which begins June 30, 2025. “There’s gonna be some hiccups along the way for sure,” Vandeweghe said, pointing to the challenges of transitioning from clay to grass with minimal preparation. “Whether you miss some easy balls that you normally wouldn’t have or maybe your percentage of returns back into play isn’t as high as it normally is.” She emphasized that Gauff’s decision to compete in Berlin so soon after Paris might have stretched her thin, especially given the emotional and physical toll of her French Open victory. The defeat, Vandeweghe suggested, could push Gauff to prioritize practice and fine-tune her game, particularly her serve and aggressive playstyle, which are critical on grass.
Gauff herself acknowledged the difficulty of the surface switch, posting on social media: “It was a tough one today but happy to be back on court. Tried my best to adjust with the quick turnaround but it wasn’t enough. As always, I’m learning as I go so I hope to do better next time.” Her candid reflection highlighted her resilience, a trait that has defined her career since her breakout at 15, when she stunned Venus Williams at Wimbledon in 2019. Despite that early promise, grass has remained a challenging surface, with Gauff’s best Wimbledon results being fourth-round appearances in 2019, 2021, and 2024. Last year’s loss to Emma Navarro in straight sets underscored her ongoing struggles at the All England Club.
Vandeweghe’s perspective was echoed by former US Open champion Andy Roddick, who noted that grass requires “reps” to master, unless you’re an anomaly like Novak Djokovic, who often wins Wimbledon without warm-up tournaments. “I don’t think everything is an easy adjustment for her on the grass,” Roddick said, highlighting Gauff’s limited practice time post-Paris. Vandeweghe’s take, while bold, aligns with Gauff’s own strategy to stay hungry. In a recent podcast, Gauff revealed her plan to “forget” her French Open win to maintain focus, saying, “I think just to stay hungry… there are two other grand slams that are very possible for me to win.” Her aggressive mindset, honed by new coach Matt Daly, who has tweaked her serve and forehand, could benefit from the Berlin loss as a chance to reset.
As Gauff turns her attention to Wimbledon, where she’s yet to crack the second week consistently, the tennis world watches closely. Her clay-season success—finals in Madrid, Rome, and a French Open title—proves her potential, but grass demands a different approach. Vandeweghe’s provocative stance suggests this setback could ignite Gauff’s determination, pushing her to channel her athleticism and topspin-heavy game into a deeper Wimbledon run. With the support of fans and mentors like Serena Williams, whose influence Gauff credits, the young star has a chance to prove the doubters wrong and turn Vandeweghe’s prediction into reality.
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