Coco Gauff battles through ‘D Tennis’ performance at Indian Wells
Despite numerous errors, Coco Gauff secures a hard-fought victory against Moyuka Uchijima.
Coco Gauff recently faced a tough match at the Indian Wells tournament, overcoming Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima with a score of 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(4). Throughout the match, Gauff struggled with consistency, committing 21 double faults and 74 unforced errors. She candidly assessed her performance as “D tennis,” acknowledging the need for improvement.
Earlier in the year, Gauff participated in the United Cup, where the United States team clinched the title against Poland. In the final, Gauff delivered a standout performance by defeating world number 2 Iga Świątek in straight sets, contributing significantly to the team’s success. She lost to Marta Kostyuk in the Round of 32 at the Qatar Open and then lost to McCartney Kessler the next week in the same round at the Dubai Tennis Championships.
Looking ahead, Gauff is set to face Maria Sakkari in the next round at Indian Wells. This upcoming match is particularly significant, as Sakkari defeated Gauff in the semifinals of the same tournament last year. Gauff aims to avenge that loss and advance further in the competition.
Coco Gauff has the opportunity to break a 24-year-old record held by Serena Williams. The record is for the longest streak of consecutive wins by an American woman at the Indian Wells tournament. Serena Williams won the title in 1999 and 2001, and Coco Gauff has the chance to surpass her by winning the title in 2025. If Gauff wins, it will mark her first Indian Wells title and she could become the youngest American to achieve such a feat since Serena Williams.
Inside the Baseline…
Coco Gauff’s journey this year has been a rollercoaster, with both impressive highs and frustrating lows. While she has shown incredible wins, her recent losses to players like McCartney Kessler and Marta Kostyuk highlight that even the best have their off days. Tennis is a game of fine margins, and sometimes, the smallest details can make the difference. These early losses may sting, but they could also be the catalyst for her to come back even stronger, refining her game and mental resilience. It is impressive to see a player win with their “D” level tennis.
READ NEXT: How the desert heat and winds play a big role at Indian Wells
Join >> Receive $700/£600 of tennis gear from the Tennishead CLUB
Social >> Facebook, Twitter & YouTube
Read >> World’s best tennis magazine
Shop >> Lowest price tennis gear from our trusted partner
