Coco Gauff has advanced at the Cincinnati Open after winning her opening match against China’s Wang Xinyu.
Gauff’s comfortable 6-3 6-2 victory contrasted what has been a recent period of difficulty for the American star on the WTA Tour.
After all, Gauff was shocked in the Wimbledon first round by Dayan Yastremska, before being dumped out of the Canadian Open by eventual champion Victoria Mboko.
Two years ago, Gauff won the Cincinnati Open before capturing her first Grand Slam title at the US Open. The American will be hoping for a repeat in 2025.
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Martina Navratilova, a nine-time Wimbledon Ladies Singles champion, predicted Gauff would win ‘double-figure’ majors after the American’s US Open victory, pinpointing only one factor that could prevent the American from achieving this feat.
Martina Navratilova said only injury could prevent Coco Gauff from winning ‘double-figure’ Grand Slams
Speaking to Sky Sports following Gauff’s victory at the 2023 US Open, Navratilova said: “She [Gauff] will win double-figure majors if she stays fit.
“We were talking the big three. Now it’s the big four. It’s Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina and Coco Gauff.
“She has no pressure on her now because now she’s won this one, so the expectations have been met. I think the confidence that she’ll get from this, she’s just getting started. Now she’s got some time to get better.
“Neither player played their best tennis but Coco played the best tennis when she needed to get back into the match in the second set. In the third set she played smart. She didn’t give Sabalenka anything to hit.
“Just see how much it meant to her. You have to trust yourself that you can put it together. She’s such a great role model for young kids growing up who want to play tennis or just achieve something because she had a dream.
“Now she’s achieved it. She’s one of those people that will make a difference in the world in a positive way.”
Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images for WTACoco Gauff’s run to the US Open title
Coco Gauff’s route to her maiden Grand Slam title was typified by grit and determination
After coming from a set down against qualifier Laura Siegemund in the first round, the American swept aside fellow prodigious talent Mirra Andreeva.
Gauff again dropped sets in the third and fourth rounds, defeating Elise Mertens and former world number one Caroline Wozniacki.
She then demolished 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko, winning their quarter-final match 6-0 6-2.
Coco Gauff’s path to the 2023 US Open title…
After defeating Karolina Muchova in the semi-finals, Gauff faced second seed Aryna Sabalenka in the final.
Gauff foreshadowed the 2025 French Open final, fighting back from a set down to claim victory, winning 2-6 6-3 6-2.