Coco Gauff, the 21-year-old American tennis prodigy and world No. 3, has made a bold choice to prioritize her long-term growth over short-term competition, opting out of the 2025 Citi Open in Washington, D.C., to focus on a dedicated training block in Florida. After a disappointing first-round exit at Wimbledon to Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska, Gauff’s decision to skip the WTA 500 event reflects her determination to refine her game ahead of the Cincinnati Open and the US Open, where she aims to defend her 2023 title. Her candid remarks about the relentless tennis calendar, coupled with her commitment to preparation, underscore a maturing athlete ready to reclaim her dominance on the hard courts.
Gauff’s 2025 season has been a whirlwind of highs and lows. Her second Grand Slam triumph at the French Open in June, where she outlasted Iga Swiatek in a thrilling final, solidified her status as a clay-court powerhouse. She also reached the final in Madrid and secured a WTA 1000 title in Rome, pushing her career title count to 10. However, her Wimbledon loss—a 6-4, 6-3 defeat—exposed vulnerabilities, particularly in her movement and consistency under pressure. “I wanted to just have a real training block,” Gauff said in Montreal ahead of the National Bank Open, explaining her decision to forego D.C. “The schedule is pretty tough. It’s not easy to go from clay to grass to hard in such a short amount of time.” Her choice reflects a strategic pivot, prioritizing practice with coaches Brad Gilbert and Jean-Christophe Faurel over the immediate points and prize money of the Citi Open.
The demanding tennis calendar has been a recurring point of frustration for Gauff, who joins players like Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, and Aryna Sabalenka in criticizing its intensity. With 49 matches played in 2025, her schedule mirrors the grueling pace of top players, yet she’s acutely aware of the toll it takes. “The calendar is relentless,” she told reporters, echoing sentiments shared on social media. “I’m only 21, but even I feel like I need more time to just breathe and work on my game.” Her training block in Florida focused on sharpening her serve and footwork, areas she identified as critical after Wimbledon. “I feel like I’m on the road to the right way, the right path,” she said, expressing optimism despite the setback. “Even though I lost today, I feel like I’m in an upward trajectory.”
Gauff’s decision to train rather than compete in D.c. also highlights her close ties with American peers like Jessica Pegula, whom she’ll face in doubles at the Canadian Open. “Having a person that you get along with definitely helps,” she said of Pegula, praising her friend’s humility and kindness. The rise of American women in the WTA—five in the top 15, including Gauff, Pegula, Emma Navarro, Madison Keys, and Amanda Anisimova—fuels her motivation. She credits the Williams sisters for inspiring this surge, noting, “I guess if we go long effect, for sure the Williams sisters for making tennis more of a popular sport for people to play in the US.” This camaraderie, combined with her competitive fire, drives Gauff as she prepares for a crucial hard-court season.
Her Montreal campaign begins against a qualifier, with a potential second-round clash against compatriot Danielle Collins, ranked No. 12. Gauff’s history in Canada is mixed—she reached the quarter-finals in 2022 but fell in the first round last year to Petra Kvitova. This time, she’s leveraging her training to adapt to the faster hard courts, a surface where she’s previously thrived, including her 2023 US Open and 2024 Cincinnati titles. “Tennis is a very popular sport among women, so a lot of our best athletes will probably choose to play tennis,” she said, reflecting on the depth of American talent and her role in it.
As Gauff eyes the Cincinnati Open, where she’ll defend 1,000 ranking points, and the US Open, where another deep run could see her overtake Swiatek for No. 1, her focus is razor-sharp. Her Florida training block, emphasizing physical conditioning and mental resilience, aims to address the “slight mistakes” that cost her at Wimbledon. With a 37-12 record in 2025 and a renewed sense of purpose, Gauff is poised to make a statement. “I’m just trying to keep building,” she said, a mantra that encapsulates her drive to not only compete but dominate. As the tennis world watches, Gauff’s strategic break could prove the foundation for a triumphant return, cementing her as a leader in the next generation of American tennis stars.
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