As the red clay of Stuttgart’s Porsche Arena swirled underfoot, Coco Gauff, the 21-year-old American tennis phenom, launched her 2025 clay court season with a performance that radiated confidence and control. The world No. 4 and reigning US Open champion delivered a resounding 6-1, 6-1 victory over Germany’s Ella Seidel, securing her place in the quarterfinals of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix. This dominant display, her first match since the Miami Open three weeks ago, signaled Gauff’s intent to conquer the clay swing and end a four-year title drought on the surface. With her sights set on the French Open and a bolstered coaching team, Gauff’s Stuttgart triumph is a bold statement in a season brimming with promise.
Gauff, who received a first-round bye as the tournament’s fourth seed, wasted no time asserting her dominance against the 23-year-old Seidel, ranked No. 144. The match, which lasted just under an hour, showcased Gauff’s aggressive baseline play and relentless athleticism, qualities that have made her a standout since her breakout at Wimbledon at age 15. “I’m really happy to be back here in Stuttgart. I feel like I have been practicing well and hope I can have a good week here,” Gauff said before the tournament, her optimism palpable. Her preparation paid off, as she converted five of seven break points and fired 20 winners, overwhelming Seidel with precision and power. The German, a wildcard entry, struggled to find answers, managing only six points on her first serve in the second set.
This victory marks Gauff’s first quarterfinal appearance since the Australian Open earlier this year, where she fell to Paula Badosa. It also builds on her strong clay court pedigree. Despite not winning a clay title since the 2021 Emilia-Romagna Open, Gauff boasts a 71.4% win rate on the surface, with a 15-4 record at Roland Garros, including a final in 2022 and quarterfinals in 2021 and 2023. “My favourite surfaces are both hard court and clay,” she noted, highlighting her comfort on the dirt. Her 2024 Stuttgart campaign ended in the quarterfinals against Marta Kostyuk, but this year’s opener suggests a sharper focus, aided by a smoother transition from hard courts. “This year the transition from hard to clay was smoother as I didn’t play Billie Jean King Cup. I didn’t have the quick turnaround, so I feel I had more time to prepare,” Gauff explained.
Gauff’s confidence is bolstered by recent changes to her coaching team. After parting ways with Brad Gilbert in September 2024, she welcomed back Jean-Christophe Faurel, who coached her during her 2019 Wimbledon run. “I added Jean-Christophe, I call him J.C., to my team. I started with him when I was 14,” she said, praising their long-standing bond. “It’s nice to have someone on my team that knows me since I was young and knows me well.” Faurel’s return, alongside new coach Matt Daly, has refined Gauff’s serve and forehand, with a grip adjustment to an eastern backhand style aimed at boosting consistency. These tweaks were evident in Stuttgart, where her serve, despite past struggles, held firm under pressure.
The Stuttgart field is formidable, with eight of the WTA’s top 10 players competing, including world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, two-time champion Iga Swiatek, and American Jessica Pegula. Gauff’s path to the title is daunting, with a potential round-of-16 clash against Danielle Collins and a quarterfinal against Jasmine Paolini looming. A semifinal showdown with Sabalenka or a final against Swiatek, who defeated Gauff in the 2022 Roland Garros final, could test her mettle. Yet, Gauff remains undaunted. “I want to try to win Madrid or Rome or here,” she said, her ambition clear. “The last time I won a clay-court title was a couple years ago if I’m not mistaken, so I kind of just want to get a recent clay title under my belt.”
Off the court, Gauff’s star continues to rise. Her 2024 earnings of $30.4 million, including $23 million in prize money, made her the top-earning female athlete, per Sportico. Endorsements with New Balance, Barilla, and Baker Tilly US, LLP, amplify her global appeal. Her recent switch to WME, Serena Williams’ former management agency, signals a strategic push to expand her brand. Social media buzz reflects fans’ excitement, with posts celebrating her Stuttgart win as a sign of a breakout clay season. However, some express caution, noting her 33% win rate against top-10 players on clay, with only two such victories (Aryna Sabalenka and Ash Barty in 2021).
As Gauff prepares for her next match, her focus is unwavering. Stuttgart, the first major clay event before Madrid, Rome, and Roland Garros, is a proving ground for her French Open aspirations. “Obviously, the goal is to win the French Open, but that’s every season for any top player,” she said. “I’m not looking at French Open right now. I’m focused on Stuttgart.” With her blend of tenacity, talent, and renewed coaching synergy, Gauff is poised to make waves on the red dirt, chasing not just a title but a legacy that could rival the greats she admires.