On a sun-drenched court in Indian Wells, Coco Gauff stepped up to the baseline, her eyes locked on the prize. The 21-year-old American tennis sensation has had a rollercoaster season, marked by soaring highs and gut-wrenching lows. Yet, as she kicked off her campaign at this prestigious tournament with a hard-fought victory over Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima, Gauff revealed a resilience that’s becoming her trademark. It’s not just about winning for her—it’s about how she handles the losses, a philosophy she summed up poignantly: “Depends how you lose.”
Gauff’s journey this year has been anything but smooth. Fresh off a strong showing at the Australian Open, where she battled her way to the Round of 16 and triumphed over Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic, she hit a rough patch. The following weeks saw her stumble, with a second-round exit at the hands of McCartney Kessler in Dubai. For a player ranked World No. 3, back-to-back losses sting deeply. But Gauff isn’t one to dwell on the setbacks. Instead, she’s channeling them into fuel for growth, proving that even in defeat, there’s a silver lining to be found.
“I guess you just have to realize that most of the internet coaches never coached anyone at my level or never played,” Gauff remarked earlier this year after her Australian Open loss. It’s a sharp, self-aware jab at the armchair critics who flood social media with unsolicited advice. She knows her game better than anyone—her strengths, her weaknesses, and the fine line between the two. That clarity has kept her grounded, even as the spotlight intensifies. And now, as she prepares to face Bencic once again in Indian Wells, Gauff is leaning into that self-awareness to sharpen her edge.
The stakes are high at Indian Wells, a tournament steeped in history. No American woman has claimed the title since Serena Williams back in 2001—a feat accomplished before Gauff was even born. For Gauff, the chance to follow in her idol’s footsteps adds an extra layer of motivation. But first, she’ll need to navigate a familiar foe in Bencic, a player she’s defeated twice before, including that recent Australian Open clash. Their upcoming match promises to be a test of endurance and adaptability, qualities Gauff has been honing all season.
Off the court, Gauff’s dedication to improvement is just as fierce. She’s teamed up with a grip specialist to refine her forehand and service—two elements of her game that have drawn scrutiny. It’s a meticulous process, one that speaks to her laser focus on evolution. “Whatever you say about Gauff, she is laser-focused on improving!” one observer noted, and it’s hard to argue. Every swing, every serve is a chance to get better, and she’s not letting heartbreak—or the occasional stumble—derail her mission.
What keeps her going through the inevitable setbacks of professional tennis? It’s a question that lingers as she powers through match after match. For Gauff, the answer lies in perspective. Losses hurt—there’s no sugarcoating that—but they also teach. “Depends how you lose,” she said, hinting at the deeper truth she’s unearthed: a defeat is only as devastating as the lessons you fail to take from it. In Dubai, she may have faltered, but by Indian Wells, she was back on her feet, gritty and determined.
As Gauff advances in the tournament, her story resonates beyond the baseline. She’s a young woman navigating a high-pressure world, balancing raw talent with relentless self-improvement. The sting of losses may linger, but it’s the silver lining—the chance to grow, to adapt, to come back stronger—that defines her. With Bencic looming and the ghost of Serena’s legacy in the air, Gauff is proving she’s not just playing to win—she’s playing to learn. And that, more than any trophy, might just be her greatest victory yet.