Following a triumphant victory at the French Open, American tennis star Coco Gauff enters the Canadian Open in Montreal as the tournament‘s top seed. The opportunity arose after World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka withdrew from the event due to fatigue. Gauff’s return to the court comes after a brief break in Florida with her boyfriend, Jalen Sera, marking a fresh start ahead of the key North American hard-court season.
Recovering from Grass-Court Challenges Before Canadian Open Debut
Gauff’s form in 2024 has experienced highs and lows. After securing her second Grand Slam title on clay, she faced early exits on grass, including a Round of 16 defeat at the Berlin Open and a first-round loss at Wimbledon. These results raised questions about her preparedness for the upcoming hard-court events.
In response, Gauff took a short, unobtrusive trip with Sera to Florida to recharge mentally. The break offered a welcome escape, featuring moments in nature and even a surprise encounter with a local alligator. Following this downtime, she has resumed training in Montreal, preparing to meet the challenges ahead at a tournament now bearing greater expectations on her shoulders.
Montreal’s Competitive Field Awaits Gauff’s Challenge
As the top seed, Gauff faces a difficult draw in a field packed with talent. Among her main rivals are World No. 3 Iga Świątek, two-time defending Canadian Open champion Jessica Pegula, emerging contender Mirra Andreeva, and a revitalized Amanda Anisimova. Each competitor brings a unique style, making the race for the title unpredictable as players sharpen their skills for the US Open.
Reflecting on Last Year’s Setback and This Year’s Goals
The Canadian Open holds special significance for Gauff, who suffered an early exit at this venue in the previous year. Entering 2024 as the reigning French Open champion and the tournament’s top seed, she faces heightened expectations to advance further than before.
Her 2024 campaign opened successfully with a straight-sets win over Wang Yafan from China, winning 6-4, 6-2. However, a subsequent match against Russia’s Diana Shnaider ended abruptly as Shnaider mounted a strong comeback, taking the match 4-6, 6-0, 6-1 and eliminating Gauff sooner than anticipated.
Despite this setback, Gauff approaches this year’s tournament with a solid 31-10 win-loss record overall and the boost that comes from leading the seedings, which could offer a psychological edge during tense moments on court.
A Tournament Wide Open for New Opportunities
The withdrawal of several top contenders has left the field more open and unpredictable than usual. This unpredictability may benefit Gauff by easing some pressure to face a dominant World No. 1, granting her a better chance to build momentum as she aims to claim another significant title ahead of the US Open.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Is Coco Gauff a millionaire?
A. Coco Gauff is a teenage millionaire. Let’s look at how she earns and uses her money. Coco became a Grand Slam winner by taking the 2023 US Open title. At 19, this talented tennis player will boost her wealth by $3 million from her win in New York.
Q. Does Coco Gauff have a degree?
A. Congratulations to @CocoGauff on finishing high school! Gauff got her diploma from the Florida Department of Education. She completed her studies through Florida Virtual Flex. The 18-year-old managed her schooling while also starting a successful professional tennis career, balancing both for the past four years.
Q. Why is Coco Gauff so rich?
A. Gauff has won a remarkable $24.3 million in prize money during her career, ranking her 18th among female tennis players. Including her endorsements, Celebrity Net Worth values her total fortune at $35 million. Forbes named Gauff the top-earning female athlete in 2024.