When Coco Gauff Finally Found Her Groove At the 2025 US Open

Sometimes the tennis gods smile down on Arthur Ashe Stadium, and Saturday morning was one of those blessed occasions. After two nail-biting nocturnal adventures that had fans reaching for their blood pressure medication, Coco Gauff finally delivered the kind of performance that reminded everyone why she is a former champion in Queens.

The 21-year-old American dismantled Poland’s Magdalena Frech 6-3, 6-1 in what can only be described as a tennis clinic disguised as a third-round match. For the first time in this tournament, Gauff didn’t begin her day by immediately handing her opponent a gift-wrapped break of serve. Can she keep it going?

Gauff’s Serving Woes Take a Holiday

Gauff’s serve had been more unpredictable than New York weather. In her previous outings against Ajla Tomljanovic and Donna Vekic, she’d been serving up double faults like a nervous waiter dropping plates. Seven double faults against Vekic alone had fans wondering if she had forgotten which end of the racket to use.

But Saturday? The tennis gods decided to cut the kid some slack. Only four double faults this time, and more importantly, she won seven of eight service games. That is the kind of consistency that wins Grand Slams, not the kind that sends coaches scrambling for new biomechanics experts.

Speaking of which, Gauff’s decision to bring in serve specialist Gavin MacMillan, the same guru who helped Aryna Sabalenka conquer her serving demons, is looking smarter by the match. MacMillan’s track record speaks volumes: he helped Sabalenka capture three major titles and reach the world No. 1 ranking. If anyone can fix Gauff’s serving hiccups, it’s the man who turned Sabalenka from a double-fault machine into a serving weapon.

The Moment That Mattered Most

Every match has that one pivotal moment, and this one came when Gauff led 4-3 in the opening set. She’d built a comfortable 3-0 lead (a refreshing change from her usual deficit starts), but then did what champions sometimes do – she momentarily lost her way.

A double fault handed Frech a break, and suddenly it was 3-all. The crowd could feel the familiar tension creeping back into Arthur Ashe Stadium. This was the moment where previous matches had spiraled into emotional rollercoasters.

But then something beautiful happened. With thousands of fans clapping and shouting encouragement, Gauff stepped to the baseline at 40-30 and unleashed a 105-mph first serve that drew an errant return from Frech. The roar that followed could probably be heard in Queens. Gauff leaned forward, clenched her fist, and screamed, “Come on!” That was it. Game over. Set over. Match basically over.

Finding Joy In the Process

Perhaps the most encouraging aspect of Gauff’s performance wasn’t the score line, but her demeanor. Gone were the tears and frustrations that had marked her earlier matches. In their place was a player who seemed to be genuinely enjoying herself on court.

“I was putting so much pressure on myself, but I’m really out here just trying to enjoy it and not focus so much on results, but the process,” Gauff said afterward. “I think today showed that I was really having fun out there.” That is the kind of mindset that separates champions from also-rans. Tennis is hard enough when you’re loose and confident. When you’re tight and overthinking every shot, it becomes nearly impossible at this level.

The Road Ahead Gets Interesting

With her 16th appearance in a Grand Slam round of 16 before her 22nd birthday, Gauff continues to build an impressive resume. That stat puts her in rare company among American women in the Open era – the kind of consistency that suggests longevity at the top level.

Next up is either Naomi Osaka or Daria Kasatkina, both presenting unique challenges. Against Osaka, it would be a clash of former and current US Open champions – the kind of marquee matchup that gets tennis fans salivating. The head-to-head stands at 3-2 in Gauff’s favor overall, though they’re tied 1-1 in majors.

Kasatkina presents a different puzzle entirely. The crafty Russian owns a 3-0 record against Gauff, though they’ve never met at a major. Sometimes those historical matchups go out the window at Grand Slams, but Kasatkina’s variety and court craft could provide exactly the kind of test that might rattle a player still finding her rhythm.

The Championship Pedigree Shows

What made Saturday’s performance so encouraging wasn’t just the straight-sets score line. It was how Gauff handled adversity. When Frech briefly threatened at 3-all in the first set, the defending champion didn’t panic. She didn’t start overthinking. She just played the next point, then the next one, until suddenly she was running away with the match.

That’s championship mentality in action. Champions don’t win every point, every game, or even every set. But they win when it matters most, and they find ways to raise their level when the pressure mounts. For Gauff, Saturday represented more than just another win – it was evidence that the process is working. The new serve coach, the mental adjustments, and the focus on enjoying the journey rather than obsessing over results. It is all starting to click at exactly the right time.

The former champion is through to week two, the serve is functioning, and most importantly, she’s smiling again. In the unpredictable world of Grand Slam tennis, that might just be the most dangerous combination of all.