2024 WTA Player of the Year Countdown, No. 4: Coco Gauff

2024, by the Numbers

• 54-17: Overall win-loss record
• 16-4: Grand Slam win-loss record (AO SF, RG SF, W 4R, USO 4R)
• 3: Titles (Auckland, Beijing, WTA Finals)
• 1: Grand Slam doubles title (Roland Garros)
• 3: Year-end ranking

The Story of the Season

2024 got off to a promising start for Coco Gauff. She successfully defended her title in Auckland in January before reaching the semifinals of the Australian Open. Coming off a 2023 which saw Gauff win her first major at the US Open along with three other titles, it set the stage for a potentially dominant year.

However, the ensuing months didn’t measure up to expectations. There were highlights to be sure. In June, Gauff reached a career-high No. 2 in the rankings. That same month, she picked up her first Grand Slam doubles crown at Roland Garros, teaming up with Katerina Siniakova. She was also a flagbearer at the Olympics for the U.S. team. But in terms of singles results, she went 15 straight events without even reaching a final.

The toughest stretch was the summer hard-court season. Over three tournaments she managed a 4-3 record, punctuated by a 19 double-fault, 4th round exit at the US Open to Emma Navarro. After getting dethroned she ended her 14-month partnership with coach, Brad Gilbert. Gauff took on a new coach—Matt Daly—and immediately got back in the winner’s circle. She took the title in Beijing in September before capturing her first WTA Finals victory in Riyadh in November.

Even if the season was perhaps not a top-to-bottom performance for Gauff, she ended it on the highest note and can take heart in maybe her most important stat: she’s still just 20 years old.—Jon Levey

What’s to Come in 2025?

With the changes in her grip technique and coaching team bringing immediate results towards the end of 2024, expect Gauff to build on that momentum at the first Major of the year. The American is determined not to let her level drop, having surprised fans with an apparent early return to training last week.

The 2025 season also starts early for Gauff, as she heads to Australia at the end of the month to represent Team USA at the United Cup. A good performance there, coupled with her already impressive hard court record will make her arguably the biggest threat to Aryna Sabalenka's Australian Open title defence.

Gauff has undoubtedly learned a lot from her tough summer this year, describing critics writing her off as her "biggest motivation". The increasing focus on Sabalenka's rivalry with Iga Swiatek could also benefit the 20-year-old, perhaps taking some of the tougher scrutiny off her young shoulders and giving her more space to improve.

While she may not be able to overhaul the top two in the world rankings just yet, the fact she beat both players on her way to the WTA Finals title shows the gap is closing fast. Her ability to deliver under pressure in the biggest moments can make her unbeatable on the Grand Slam stage, and it's tough to bet against her for a second Major title in 2025. As she herself puts it: "I'm the author of my own story and I'm not going to let anybody write me off."—Emma Storey