​Coco Gauff is a remarkably accomplished young tennis professional. She rose to prominence by defeating Venus Williams at the age of 15 in 2019 and has since claimed two Grand Slam titles, ascending to the upper echelons of the sport and becoming one of the top earners among female players. Now 22, she sits at world No. 7, having previously reached as high as No. 2, and owns a 308-126 tour record. By the standards of many rivals a decade her senior, her résumé would be the envy of most.
Yet, even with all she has achieved, it often feels like Coco remains a step away from meeting the full potential many believe she possesses. Despite deep runs in tournaments, her campaigns tend to feel fraught rather than decisively dominant. Gauff tends not to impose herself in a way that overwhelms opponents; instead, she invites them to impose themselves on the match, relying on a spectacular defense—unmatched speed, athleticism, a reliable backhand, and inexhaustible willpower—to shepherd them into a mirroring riot of their own mistakes. She acts as a steadfast backstop, resistant to pressure and always in motion.
This approach has served her exceedingly well, but it also suggests there could be an easier path on the court. If she fully unleashed her physical tools, she might seize more initiative, shortening points and pushing the ball to even more unreachable spots. There is a clear potential for some of her tense, three-set struggles to tighten into calm, two-set triumphs. Like many players who have captured the imagination of tennis fans, she prompts the question of whether that kind of decisive victory is in her future, or if she needs a certain cinematic drama to unlock her best self.
Heading into this year’s Wimbledon, Gauff had not won a grass-court match in two years. Since Wimbledon began, she has claimed five victories, advancing to a semifinal this Thursday against Czech contender Karolína Muchová. In typical Gauff fashion, four of these wins stretched to three sets, yet she has reached this stage through her most confident and assertive tennis to date. There are clear signs of evolution and maturity in her game, perhaps offering a glimpse of the player she may become as she moves deeper into her twenties and into her thirties.
In victories over Belinda Bencic and her former doubles partner Jessica Pegula, ranked No. 11 and No. 4 in the world respectively, Gauff discovered a crucial new ingredient. When put under pressure by strong, up-at-the-net opponents, she found release at the net herself. Gauff has long been adept at punishing players who advance too eagerly, a skill dating back to her breakout win against Venus Williams, where she adeptly lobbed over a charging bully. What she is only just beginning to do, though, is to assume that bully role herself. From closer to the baseline, her rapid reflexes, deft touch, explosive leaping ability, and capacity to retreat and reset enable her to seize advantages she had previously allowed to slip away in pursuit of more flashy results. This development marks a significant step in her evolution, hinting at a version of Coco Gauff who can blend the artistry of her defensive mastery with the authority of a true on-court aggressor.