Coco Gauff, the 21-year-old American tennis sensation, returned to the winner’s circle with a hard-fought victory at the 2025 National Bank Open in Montreal, marking her first win since capturing the French Open title in June. Facing compatriot Danielle Collins in a thrilling second-round clash, Gauff battled through a staggering 23 double faults to secure a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6(2) victory in a match that lasted nearly three hours. The win, sealed with a clean ace in the third-set tiebreak, showcased Gauff’s resilience and mental fortitude, earning praise across the tennis world as she navigated a challenging transition from clay to hard courts.
Gauff’s journey to this triumph was anything but smooth. After her French Open victory over Aryna Sabalenka, where she became the first American woman to win at Roland Garros since Serena Williams in 2015, Gauff faced a shocking first-round exit at Wimbledon to Dayana Yastremska, hampered by nine double faults. Her struggles on grass were evident earlier at the Berlin Open, where she amassed 25 unforced errors and seven double faults in a loss to Wang Xinyu. “It was a tough one today but happy to be back on court,” Gauff had posted on social media after Berlin, vowing to improve for Wimbledon. Yet, the quick surface switch and mental fatigue from her French Open success left her searching for rhythm. “I feel like mentally I was a little bit overwhelmed with everything that came afterwards,” she admitted post-Wimbledon, reflecting on the challenge of recalibrating after a Major win.
In Montreal, Gauff, the top seed due to Sabalenka’s withdrawal, faced a familiar foe in Collins, a powerful hitter ranked No. 33. The match was a rollercoaster, with 18 breaks of serve and 36 combined double faults—23 from Gauff and 13 from Collins. Gauff’s serve, a persistent Achilles’ heel, faltered early as she experimented with a new grip, resulting in errant tosses that were either too long or too soft. “It was a frustrating match for me,” Gauff said post-match. “I felt like I was practicing well and then I don’t think I transferred it today, but hopefully I got my bad match of the tournament out of the way.” Despite the serving woes, Gauff’s ground game was solid, with her signature speed and defensive prowess keeping her in rallies. “I felt like off the ground I was playing pretty well,” she noted, highlighting her ability to lean on her athleticism.
The decisive third set saw Collins serve for the match at 6-5, but Gauff’s tenacity shone through. She broke back, forcing a tiebreak where she found her best tennis, hitting no double faults and closing with a rare ace. “Coco Gauff winning a match in which she hit 23 double faults on a clean ace is the most Coco Gauff thing ever,” one fan posted on social media, capturing the irony and admiration for her grit. Another called it “one hell of a match,” noting the chaotic brilliance of Gauff’s third-set tiebreak dominance despite giving away nearly a set’s worth of points on double faults.
Gauff’s victory, her first since Paris, propels her into the third round against Veronika Kudermetova, with a chance to build momentum for the US Open, where she’s the defending champion. Her 2023 US Open run included two bagel sets in early rounds, a feat not seen from a defending champion since Serena Williams in 2013. Yet, her serve remains a work in progress, as evidenced by 19 double faults in her 2024 US Open loss to Emma Navarro. In Montreal, Gauff’s ability to win despite such errors underscored her mental strength. “She’s a mentally really strong player,” Tatjana Maria had said after their 2024 US Open clash, a sentiment echoed by Collins’ aggressive playstyle pushing Gauff to dig deep.
The tennis community buzzed with reactions, with fans marveling at Gauff’s ability to overcome a record-setting 23 double faults—the most in a women’s singles match since 2011. “That’s a feat in itself,” one observer noted, highlighting her ability to stay competitive against a WTA 1000 champion like Collins. Gauff’s focus now shifts to refining her serve, which she believes could cut match times in half if cleaned up. With the hard-court swing in full force and the US Open looming, Gauff’s Montreal triumph signals her readiness to chase another Major title, proving that even on her toughest days, her will to win remains unshakable.
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