Coco Gauff has made improvements to her serving and her forehand. And the strides in both of those areas are among the reasons she's considered one of the few women ready to challenge two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka for the title at the Australian Open.

Given everything she has already achieved in her fledgling career – and the weight of expectation she has borne as one of tennis’ rising superstars – it’s sometimes easy to forget that Coco Gauff is still only 20 years old.

Australian Open begins January 12 in Melbourne, and the draws for the men’s and women’s singles are intriguing — and have thrown up some blockbuster first-round matches. The Athletic’s tennis writers,

Coco Gauff kicked off her 2025 season in style, showcasing exceptional form and determination as she led the United States to victory at the United Cup. The 20-year-old displayed an unblemished record throughout the tournament,

Former British No 1 Laura Robson thinks Coco Gauff “looks incredibly confident” ahead of the 2025 Australian Open as she assessed that the American star has “transformed her game.” Gauff made a perfect start to her campaign by inspiring the United States to win the United Cup with some outstanding performances.