Coco Gauff has her eyes firmly set on climbing to the top of Tennis, aspiring to become world number one by 2025. Remarkably, she has already reached this milestone in one version of the rankings, cementing her place as leading athlete in the sport.
With an exceptional ranking of number 2, achieved in June 2024, Gauff is preparing to gain valuable points at the upcoming Australian Open. Her recent performance provided a welcome boost, as she was confirmed as the number 1 in the latest UTR Ratings.
The Universal Tennis Rating (UTR), which is backed by 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic, uses an algorithm that evaluates players’ rankings based on their recent form, unlike the annual metrics of the ATP Rankings. In this system, wins against higher-ranked opponents carry greater weight, providing a more accurate look at a player’s current competitive advantage in the sport.
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Rather than taking into account results over an entire year, UTR rankings reflect players’ performances over recent weeks and months. This innovative system was designed to encourage fair and competitive play across the tennis landscape, scoring participants on a common scale of 1.00 to 16.50, regardless of age, gender or skill level.
While the official WTA rankings guide tournament seeds, Gauff’s position atop the UTR rankings comes after she ended the previous season on a high note, claiming victory at a WTA 1000 event in China followed by a resounding victory at the WTA Finals.
A newbie to her talent, Gauff recently triumphed over Iga Swiatek in the United Cup, leading Team USA to victory. Approaching the Australian Open with a relaxed mindset, she highlighted her readiness to take on challenges, even when she is not at her best.
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“For me, it’s about recognizing that even though I’ve played well, it’s not realistic to expect to maintain that consistently,” Gauff expressed. “I know there will be challenges during this tournament, but I aim to approach it without pressure, stay in the moment and enjoy the journey. My recent results reflect this mindset, and I hope keep this perspective even in difficult times.”
Gauff discussed the relativity of victory and defeat, stating: “In athletics, victories often seem obligatory, while defeats can seem catastrophic. Ultimately, our mindset shapes these perceptions more than anyone. I understood the importance of giving my best; it’s liberating to leave the court knowing that I gave everything, without being affected by the results.”
Gauff advanced to the third round of the Australian Open on Wednesday after beating Britain’s Jodie Burrage, boosting her confidence as she chases her second Grand Slam title.
In an ever-changing tennis landscape, Emma Raducanu also made headlines by rising to 17th in the latest UTR rankings, following her impressive first-round victory over 26th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova.
The latest UTR rankings are as follows:
- Coco Gauff (USA)
- Iga Swiatek (POL)
- Zheng Qinwen (CHN)
- Aryna Sabalenka (BLR)
- Elena Rybakina (KAZ)
- Paula Badosa (ESP)
- Madison Keys (USA)
- Karolina Muchova (CZE)
- Jessica Pegula (USA)
- Mirra Andreeva (RUS)
- Naomi Osaka (JPN)
- Yulia Putintseva (KAZ)
