American tennis star Coco Gauff claimed a historic victory at the 2025 French Open, powered by a strategic return to doubles competition that appeared to sharpen her overall game. The 21-year-old triumphed at Roland Garros on June 7, overcoming World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in a gripping three-set final, signaling a turning point after a challenging start to her season.

Gauff’s decision to incorporate doubles into her tournament schedule not only revitalized her clay court performance but may also lay the foundation for improved results on the grass courts of Wimbledon this summer. Former WTA legend Rennae Stubbs has highlighted this doubles strategy as a key factor behind Gauff’s recent surge to the Suzanne Lenglen trophy.

Gauff Overcomes Early Struggles with Doubles as a Game-Changer

After reaching the quarterfinals at the Australian Open early in 2025, Coco Gauff’s singles performance faltered with several early exits at premier events such as Doha, Dubai, Indian Wells, and Miami. Despite making the quarterfinals in Stuttgart, her overall form on the women’s tour seemed inconsistent heading into the clay season. The breakthrough came when Gauff began competing in doubles alongside singles at the Madrid Open, teaming up with young partner Alexandra Eala. This shift proved decisive as she reached the doubles quarterfinals and went on to reach the singles final.

This momentum carried over to the Italian Open in Rome, where Gauff and Eala repeated their doubles quarterfinal run, while Gauff reached her second consecutive singles final of the season. The confidence and form gained through doubles evidently contributed to her continued rise, culminating in her groundbreaking French Open title win, the first by an American since Serena Williams in 2015.

Reflecting on this approach, Rennae Stubbs, speaking on her June 18 podcast episode, stated,

“Frankly, I think one of the reasons why, and this might be little bit of controversial, I think one of the reasons why Coco Gauff has played well over the last, like, month is she’s started playing a little bit of doubles again.”

Stubbs explained further,

“It helps your game, there’s no doubt about it. (Mirra) Andreeva is a great example, she’s playing singles and doubles every single week. (Jasmine) Paolini’s playing singles and doubles every single week.”

The examples Stubbs cited illustrate how competing in both formats can enhance overall competitiveness. Teenage star Mirra Andreeva’s active participation in singles and doubles has fostered consistency, aiding her in securing back-to-back WTA 1000 titles at Dubai and Indian Wells. Similarly, Jasmine Paolini’s combined schedule supported her maiden WTA title last month, including capturing the doubles crown alongside compatriot Sara Errani. Paolini also won the women’s doubles trophy at the French Open with Errani, underscoring the benefits of maintaining a dual focus.

Aiming to Rewrite Wimbledon History with Aggressive Grass Court Play

With her clay court success behind her, Coco Gauff now turns her attention to Wimbledon, the All England Club’s prestigious grass tournament. Despite an explosive debut in 2019, when, as a 15-year-old, she stunned fans and defeated her childhood idol Venus Williams in the opening round, success at Wimbledon has eluded her beyond the fourth round. Her progress on grass has consistently stopped before the semifinals, creating an unresolved challenge in her career.

Gauff is hopeful that the skills reinforced through doubles will translate into improved performance on grass courts as well. In an interview with Vogue, she candidly assessed her earlier grass court struggles, saying,

“Grass has been trial and error for me. The biggest thing, I think, is just to be more aggressive.”

She added,

“On clay, you have a little more time; you can slide, you can use the height of the ball’s bounce a bit more. That’s less so on grass.”

The tactical difference, she explained, demands a shift in playing style. Gauff emphasized her intent to play

“more aggressively… and I want to serve a lot bigger.”

Her preparation includes an upcoming appearance on grass at the Berlin Open, where she will begin her campaign facing China’s Xinyu Wang. With this grass court tune-up ahead of Wimbledon, Gauff seems poised to apply the lessons learned from her doubles experience to improve footwork, net play, and court coverage under faster conditions.

Impact of Doubles on Gauff’s Overall Career Development

The return to doubles marks a significant adjustment in Gauff’s professional routine, one which appears to nurture critical aspects of her game often tested on faster surfaces. Doubles play demands sharper volleying skills, quicker reflexes, and enhanced teamwork, which in turn can translate into greater confidence and versatility in singles competition. For Gauff, this approach has reignited her competitive edge and mental resilience, vital components for success at major tournaments.

This resurgence could not have come at a better time. At 21, Gauff is entering what many consider the prime years of a tennis player’s career, and refining her all-court game will be crucial for challenging the sport’s elite. Her French Open triumph, propelled by a strategic doubles comeback, may well signal a new era in her development, providing a foundation to conquer other Grand Slam events.

The broader tennis community will be keenly watching how this adjustment influences her upcoming Wimbledon performance and beyond. If Gauff’s doubles strategy continues to pay dividends, it could serve as a blueprint for other young players seeking to elevate their singles game through doubles competition.

Looking Ahead: What This Means for Gauff’s Future Slam Goals

Coco Gauff’s remarkable comeback at Roland Garros, crowned by dethroning the world’s top-ranked player Aryna Sabalenka, highlights both her talent and adaptability. Her French Open win stands as a milestone for American tennis, reconnecting the country to Grand Slam success reminiscent of Serena Williams’ era.

As the grass season approaches, Gauff’s renewed focus on aggressive play and improved serve mechanics honed through doubles will be put to the test. Success at Wimbledon, where she has yet to break through to the later rounds, remains a coveted objective. Should she manage to apply her transformed style effectively, the tennis world may witness the emergence of a more complete and confident champion.

Whether Coco Gauff’s doubles strategy fuels another breakthrough on grass, it is clear that this approach has had a tangible impact on her recent achievements and could be instrumental in shaping her trajectory as a future all-surface contender.