Coco Gauff, the 21-year-old American tennis sensation and world number two, is no stranger to the spotlight, but her recent grass court setback at the Berlin Tennis Open by HYLO sparked more than just performance critiques. A fan’s accusation of a wardrobe malfunction during her 6-3, 6-3 loss to qualifier Wang Xinyu on June 19, 2025, prompted a fiery response from Gauff, showcasing her resilience and wit. “I always adjust my skirts or headbands 😂 not because it doesn’t fit it’s just something to do with my hands to not crash out on court, redirecting my focus onto something else instead of negative thoughts,” Gauff clapped back on social media, drawing parallels to Rafael Nadal’s iconic on-court rituals. As she prepares for the Wimbledon Championships starting June 30, 2025, Gauff’s bold message and strategic mindset signal her determination to conquer the grass and silence doubters.
## A Berlin Stumble Sparks Fashion Debate
Gauff’s Berlin campaign, her first grass court outing since her 2025 French Open triumph over Aryna Sabalenka, ended abruptly in the second round. Seeded second, she received a first-round bye but struggled against Wang, committing 25 unforced errors, including seven double faults, to just eight winners. The loss, a blow to her Wimbledon preparations, drew attention not only for her performance but also for her on-court behavior. Fans noticed Gauff frequently adjusting her New Balance and Miu Miu-designed outfit—a sleek white ensemble with bold cutouts inspired by her love for Marvel superheroes. One critic on X, Blessing Adesiyan, suggested a wardrobe malfunction, prompting Gauff’s sharp retort: “y’all gotta think first 😭😂.” Her response clarified that her adjustments were a mental tactic, akin to Nadal’s meticulous water bottle placements or shorts tugs, to stay focused under pressure.
The incident echoes Gauff’s history of turning fashion into a statement. Her 2024 Australian Open bodysuit, also Marvel-inspired, required referee assistance to unzip for bathroom breaks, which she humorously called a “sacrifice for fashion.” “This outfit, I’m a huge Marvel fan and a lot of the female superheroes have cool cutouts on their outfits,” she explained in January, embracing the challenges of her bold style. Her collaboration with Miu Miu and New Balance, blending luxury fashion with performance wear, has made her a trendsetter, but Wimbledon’s strict all-white dress code, relaxed in 2023 to allow dark undershorts, poses a unique challenge. “I was on my period last year during Wimbledon, and it was very stressful,” Gauff said in 2023, praising the rule change for easing anxiety.
## Grass Court Challenges and Expert Insights
Gauff’s Berlin defeat, where Wang leveled their head-to-head at 1-1, highlighted her grass court struggles. Despite her 2019 Wimbledon heroics—defeating Venus Williams at 15 to become the youngest qualifier in tournament history—Gauff has yet to advance beyond the fourth round at SW19, a milestone she reached in 2019, 2021, and 2024. “It was super tough when I walked on the court and felt the wind,” she said of Berlin’s challenging conditions, acknowledging her 25 unforced errors. Her 1-3 grass court record in 2025 contrasts with her 17 clay court wins, including the French Open and WTA Finals titles. Serena and Venus Williams’ childhood coach, Rick Macci, offered a blueprint for success: “The key for Coco on grass will be controlling the center of the court and making the baseline her closest friend.”
Former British number one Laura Robson, now a tournament director, tempered expectations for Gauff at Wimbledon. “I don’t know who is favorite in the women’s Wimbledon event. I would probably say Sabalenka because she’s done well there in the past,” Robson said, noting Gauff’s lack of a “standout result” on grass despite three fourth-round appearances. Gauff’s 21-9 career grass court record reflects potential but also inconsistency, with last year’s first-round loss to Sofia Kenin a low point. Her 2025 French Open win, rallying from a set down against Sabalenka (6-7(5), 6-2, 6-4), proved her resilience, which she’ll need against top seeds like Sabalenka, Pegula, and Paolini.
## Wimbledon Dreams and a Bold Future
Gauff’s response to critics underscores her mental toughness, a trait honed since her 2019 breakout. “Playing freely, it just feels fun,” she said after a 2024 Wimbledon first-round rout of Caroline Dolehide, a mindset she aims to recapture. Her New Balance CG2 and Coco Delray shoes, featuring “Green Apple” accents for Wimbledon 2025, reflect her commitment to style and performance. With a favorable draw, Gauff could face Emma Navarro in the fourth round again, after Navarro’s 6-4, 6-3 upset in 2024. “I had to force her to play that way and make a lot of balls,” Gauff said of her French Open win, a strategy she’ll lean on at Wimbledon, live on ESPN and BBC.
As fans rally behind her—one X user posted, “Coco’s clapback was iconic! She’s ready for Wimbledon!”—Gauff’s journey is about more than tennis. Her $4.8 million WTA Finals prize and endorsements with Barilla and Baker Tilly highlight her off-court impact. With her mother, Candi, cheering her on, as seen in a heartfelt post about her purple WTA Finals gala gown, Gauff is poised to turn her Berlin setback into a Wimbledon triumph, proving her style and substance are unstoppable.
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