Andy Roddick has tipped Gauff for a bright future, with the 20-year-old having finished her 2024 season as the WTA Finals champion.

Gauff beat Jessica Pegula, Barbora Krejcikova and Iga Swiatek in the group stages in Riyadh before a semi-final win over Aryna Sabalenka.

The American then defeated Qinwen Zheng to clinch the trophy, with Gauff now continuing that form into 2025 ahead of the Australian Open.

Coco Gauff told she has the edge over Iga Swiatek at the Australian Open

And having found it very difficult to overcome Swiatek, she has now won their last two meetings, the latest of which came in the United Cup final.

Asked on the Tennis Channel if Gauff is changing the narrative at the top of women’s tennis right now, Jon Wertheim said: “100%. Coco is in such a different spot than she was just a few months ago.

READ MORE: The biggest threat to Aryna Sabalenka’s dominance at the Australian Open may not be Coco Gauff

“Two straight wins over Iga, under different conditions but both high-pressure, high-stakes matches. Team competition, Coco won $1million last week, so that’s a lot riding on this event.

“She has figured out Iga, she has outcompeted her. The little technical adjustments she has made are really paying off.

“We’ll talk about Sabalenka I’m sure who will be the favourite in Australia as the de-defending champion, but I think Coco is right up there ahead of Iga as 1A, that’s a statement win.”

What is the head-to-head record between Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek?

Swiatek has dominated many players during her fine career so far, with the Pole already on five Grand Slam titles at the age of 23.

Gauff was on the receiving end of one of those wins, when Swiatek beat the American 6-1, 6-3 in the 2022 French Open final.

READ MORE: Iga Swiatek provides fitness update ahead of the Australian Open after taking medical time out against Coco Gauff

And unfortunately for the former, the Roland Garros heartache didn’t end there, with Gauff also losing to her rival in the latter stages of the 2023 and 2024 tournaments.

But it looks like the American ace has now turned a corner, grinding out a superb 6-4, 6-4 win over her nemesis to help the USA beat Poland in the United Cup final.

A reunion is now on the cards once more at the Australian Open, where Gauff could improve her head-to-head record with Swiatek, which is currently 11-3 in favour of the Pole.

Related Topics