In the ever-evolving world of professional tennis, where young stars rise and fall with the intensity of a grand slam final, one veteran player has stepped forward with a bold perspective on Coco Gauff’s recent struggles. Andrea Petkovic, a seasoned figure on the WTA tour known for her sharp insights and candid commentary, has offered a hot take that’s stirring conversation among fans and analysts alike. Gauff, the American prodigy who burst onto the scene with a fearless game and unrelenting drive, has hit a rough patch, and Petkovic isn’t holding back on what she believes is the root of the issue.
“It does not work when you’re trying to please everyone,” Petkovic declared, her words cutting through the noise surrounding Gauff’s recent performances. The 20-year-old, once hailed as the heir apparent to Serena Williams, has faced a string of inconsistent results in 2025, leaving many to wonder what’s gone awry for the former teenage sensation. Petkovic’s assessment points to a deeper struggle—one that transcends forehands and backhands. She suggests that Gauff’s attempts to balance the expectations of fans, sponsors, and her own ambitions may be diluting her focus on the court.
Gauff’s journey has been nothing short of remarkable. At just 15, she stunned the tennis world by defeating Venus Williams at Wimbledon, showcasing a maturity and poise that belied her age. Titles followed, as did endorsements and a spotlight that few athletes her age have ever navigated. But with great success comes great pressure, and Petkovic argues that this weight might be throwing Gauff off her game. “She’s got all the tools—power, speed, smarts—but when you’re pulled in too many directions, it’s hard to swing freely,” Petkovic elaborated. Her theory paints a picture of a young star caught between her natural instincts and the demands of a global stage.
This season, Gauff’s results have been a mixed bag. While she’s shown flashes of brilliance—moments where her athleticism and shot-making remind everyone of her potential—there have been too many early exits and shaky performances to ignore. Losses that once seemed like anomalies are starting to form a pattern, and Petkovic’s take offers a lens through which to view them. It’s not just about technique or strategy, she insists, but about the mental clutter that comes with being a modern tennis icon. “You can’t play your best when you’re second-guessing every move, trying to live up to an image,” she said, her tone a blend of empathy and bluntness.
Petkovic’s perspective resonates because she’s been there. A former top-10 player herself, she knows the grind of the tour and the toll it can take when the world watches your every step. She’s seen players buckle under pressure and others rise above it, and her commentary on Gauff feels personal. “Coco’s still young, but she’s not new to this,” Petkovic noted. “She’s got to decide who she’s playing for—herself or everyone else.” It’s a challenge that’s as much about identity as it is about tennis, and one that Gauff may need to confront sooner rather than later.
The tennis community has been buzzing with opinions on Gauff’s dip in form. Some point to coaching changes or the physical demands of the sport, while others speculate about burnout. Petkovic’s take, however, shifts the narrative to something more introspective. She’s not dismissing Gauff’s talent—far from it. Instead, she’s urging the young star to reclaim the unapologetic confidence that once defined her. “When she was 15, she didn’t care what anyone thought. She just played,” Petkovic recalled. “That’s the Coco we need to see again.”
As the 2025 season unfolds, all eyes remain on Gauff. Can she tune out the noise and rediscover the freedom that propelled her to stardom? Petkovic’s words linger as both a critique and a call to action. For a player with so much promise, the path forward may lie in simplifying the equation—focusing less on pleasing the world and more on dominating it, one match at a time. The tennis veteran’s bold take might just be the wake-up call Gauff needs to swing freely once more.