Coco Gauff’s second-round match at the 2025 US Open was never meant to be a smooth climb—even as the defending champion she faced an emotional and technical rollercoaster. Against Croatia’s Donna Vekic, Gauff, the world number three, exposed a side of elite competition that is rarely seen: a moment of genuine vulnerability in front of 24,000 fans and millions watching around the world.
The first set was a struggle. An uncharacteristic flurry of errors and double faults left Gauff reeling. She was broken late in the opening set, slumping into her towel and breaking down in tears—a rare public moment of emotional surrender. “It feels human,” Gauff said afterward, pointing out how athletes are often denied the privilege of emotion. “People kind of disregard that side of us,” she added.
That emotional unraveling clearly resonated—because what happened afterward was a dramatic reset. Gauff reduced her unforced errors from 13 to just five, and trimmed her double faults from seven to one during the second set. She rebounded with sharp focus, digging deep and closing out a 7-6(5), 6-2 victory to reach the third round.
Her path to tonight’s emotional release has been burdened by a fragile serve. Earlier in the tournament, Gauff split with long-time coach Matt Daly and brought in biomechanics specialist Gavin MacMillan—who had previously helped Aryna Sabalenka overhaul her serve. Under MacMillan’s guidance, Gauff has been retraining her second delivery, and those changes had been fraught with uncertainty in pressure moments.
That tension boiled over in the match. In the first round, Gauff had to wrestle with mistrust in her new serving motion. But by the second round, through tears and errant serves, she showed resilience—and a dawning confidence.
Physically and mentally, the moment marked a turning point. She credited Simone Biles, who was in attendance, as one source of inspiration. Biles’ own well-publicized struggles and return to glory provided a powerful parallel for coco.
What stood out was her candid reflection: “I have bad days, but I think it is more about how you get up after those bad moments,” Gauff said. “I think today I showed that I can get up after feeling the worst I’ve ever felt on the court.” It was this recovery—after falling into a moment of visible despair—that defined the match. us
At just 21, Gauff is already a two-time Grand Slam winner—Junior US Open and then the 2023 US Open, followed by the 2025 French Open. But in ambition and psychological grit, she remains very much a young athlete. This match showed that side of her: vulnerable, challenged, yet ever evolving.
In the glowing spotlight of Arthur Ashe Stadium, Gauff’s tears were not a sign of weakness but a reminder: behind the powerful strokes and court-smashing frames, there is also a human being—resilient, exposed, and growing stronger through every setback.
