Coco Gauff is back in the spotlight at Flushing Meadows, and the buzz around the 2025 US Open is impossible to ignore. The 21-year-old American tennis sensation, currently ranked world No. 3, returns to her home Grand Slam with both the weight of expectation and the fire of ambition. After a season filled with ups and downs—including a surprising early exit at Wimbledon and a tough hard-court run—Gauff has her sights set on a second US Open crown, determined to prove that her meteoric rise is only just beginning.
Gauff’s journey to the 2025 US Open has been anything but ordinary. Since capturing her first major title in New York as a teenager in 2023, she’s added two more Grand Slam trophies to her collection at this year’s French Open, conquering both singles and doubles. That kind of accomplishment would be enough for most players to rest on their laurels, but not Gauff. Instead, she’s become even more “obsessed with the process of getting better,” as she revealed in a candid pre-tournament press conference in New York City. “For me, I just want to get better. I'm obsessed with the process of getting better—sometimes maybe it hurts because I get obsessed with it too much."
That obsession has led to bold changes. Just days before the first serve at Flushing Meadows, Gauff made headlines by parting ways with her grip coach, Matt Daly, and bringing biomechanics expert Gavin MacMillan onto her team. The move was a direct response to serving woes that have plagued her throughout the season—a gutsy decision at such a crucial moment. According to a report published by Tennis.com on August 22, 2025, “The 2023 champion brought on biomechanic coach Gavin MacMillan and parted with Matt Daly on the eve of the final major of the season.”
Gauff’s willingness to shake things up so close to the tournament speaks volumes about her commitment to improvement. She’s not just aiming to compete—she’s aiming to dominate. As the top-ranked US female singles player and the No. 3 seed behind Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek, Gauff is carrying the hopes of American tennis fans on her shoulders. And she’s embracing the challenge with characteristic enthusiasm, telling TODAY on August 23, 2025, about her excitement for the tournament and her relentless drive to keep pushing her limits.
“I’m just really excited to be back here,” Gauff shared during her TODAY interview, her energy palpable even through the screen. She spoke openly about her journey, her role as a trailblazer in the sport, and her personal interests off the court, including her love of dance and her playful superhero ambitions. It’s clear that Gauff isn’t just focused on her own success—she wants to inspire the next generation, too.
But make no mistake: the tennis comes first. Gauff’s first-round opponent at the 2025 US Open is Australia’s Ajla Tomljanović, a familiar face whom she defeated convincingly 6-3, 6-0 at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games on clay. The draw is favorable, but nothing is guaranteed at this level. The women’s singles schedule is packed, with the first round running from August 24-26, the second round on August 27-28, and the third round on August 29-30. The road to the final on September 6 is long and treacherous, with every match a potential pitfall.
Fans eager to follow Gauff’s campaign won’t have to look far. The US Open is being broadcast on ESPN in the United States, with coverage extending across South America, New Zealand, and the Caribbean. Eurosport will bring the action to much of Europe, while Sky Sports covers the UK, Italy, and Germany. In India, Star Sports carries the tournament, and African fans can tune in via beIN Sports and SuperSport. Australian viewers have Nine and Stan Sport, while Canadians can watch on RDS and TSN. With the world watching, every point Gauff plays will be under the microscope.
What’s driving Gauff this year? It’s not just the desire to reclaim the title she won as a teenager, but a deeper hunger to evolve as a player. Her early exit at Wimbledon 2025 was a wake-up call, and the subsequent struggles on hard courts forced her to reevaluate her approach. The coaching switch, particularly the focus on biomechanics, underscores her willingness to leave no stone unturned in pursuit of excellence. As she put it, “I’m obsessed with the process of getting better.”
Her journey hasn’t been without its lighter moments, either. Gauff has become known for her infectious personality, both on and off the court. Whether she’s breaking out dance moves with her family or joking about saving the city like a true superhero, she brings a sense of joy and authenticity that resonates with fans around the globe. It’s a reminder that, even at the highest level, tennis is still a game to be enjoyed.
Yet, beneath the surface, there’s a fierce competitor determined to make history. Gauff’s rise to the top of the sport has been meteoric, but she’s not satisfied with past glories. The pressure of being the top-ranked American and a major title favorite could be daunting, but she seems to thrive on it. “I just want to get better,” she insisted, a mantra that’s become the backbone of her career.
Looking ahead, the 2025 US Open promises to be a thrilling chapter in Gauff’s ongoing story. With a new coaching setup, a fresh perspective, and the unwavering support of her home crowd, she’s poised to make another deep run at Flushing Meadows. The women’s field is stacked, with Sabalenka and Swiatek also gunning for glory, but Gauff’s blend of athleticism, mental toughness, and sheer determination makes her a formidable contender.
As the tournament gets underway, all eyes will be on Coco Gauff. Will her bold changes pay off? Can she channel her obsession with improvement into another Grand Slam triumph? One thing’s for sure: she’s ready to give it everything she’s got. The action is just beginning, and the world is watching as Gauff takes her next swing at greatness in New York.
