Coco Gauff has been riding a wave of brilliance lately, and with the Australian Open finally here, the American sensation is ready to make her mark on the season’s first Grand Slam.

Eyes firmly set on the coveted title, Gauff isn’t just relying on wishes to make it happen—it’s all about grit and game. But hold on! The freshly released draw has thrown a curveball her way, and the path to glory looks anything but smooth.

The American tennis sensation is fresh off her victory at the United Cup where she demonstrated remarkable skills to lead her team to the glory. But the latest Australian Open draw is all set to pose some challenges for the star player, especially in the critical stages.  As per the latest draw, Gauff will enjoy a smooth beginning to the tournament. She will play her first match against compatriot Sofia Kenin. While Gauff has lost two of the three encounters against Kenin, the last defeat came in January 2023 and since then, the star player has shown immense growth. Moving forward, she will face either the qualifier or Jodie Anna Burrage for the second time after defeating her in Eastbourne in 2023. But here begins the challenge for the star player.

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If Gauff manages to advance to the third round, she will likely face Leylah Fernandez, against whom Gauff holds a 1-0 lead. Movie ahead, she will face either Karolina Muchova or Jelena Ostapenko in the fourth round. Gauff leads both the players in the head-to-head tally. However, Muchova’s rise in the last season and her tough contest with Gauff in the China Open can pose further difficulties for the star player. And if she manages to overcome this challenge, she will go on to face Jessica Pegula in the quarterfinals of the tournament.

Notably, Pegula leads Gauff 4-2 in the head-to-head tally and has handed her defeat at crucial stages. Be it in the semi-finals of the WTA Finals in 2023, or the mega-clash in Berlin last year, Pegula has managed to keep her dominance against the 20-year-old.  However, if she manages to overcome the challenge, Coco Gauff will likely have to face Aryna Sabalenka in the semi-finals of the tournament. While Gauff leads the head-to-head tally 5-4, Sabalenka has proven to be a tough competitor for Gauff, especially in last year.

The World No. 1 faced the American giant thrice last year and except for the WTA Finals, she managed to baffle her on all occasions. Point to note: Gauff and Sabalenka met at the Semifinals of the Australian Open last year as well where the American was outshined in straight sets. Besides, the infamous defeat that came for Gauff at the Wuhan Open where she fired 21 double faults, will further boost Sabalenka’s confidence. But guess what? Gauff has the potential to overcome the Belarusian force but despite that the challenges for her will not end. If Gauff manages to reach the finals, she will then have to face Iga Swiatek for the title.

Gauff and Swiatek have faced each other 14 times with the 2023 US Open champion winning only three of the encounters, While she managed to beat Swiatek in the last two matches that came at the WTA Finals and the United Cup, the determination depicted by Pole throughout will definitely pose challenges for Gauff.  But while the challenge is monumental, one thing is clear—this young star isn’t one to back down. And as she gears up for the tournament, Gauff is beaming with confidence.

Coco Gauff has witnessed immense success recently, After winning the China Open and the WTA Finals in Riyad last year, she entered the new season in a dominant form. And true to herself, she showcased impeccable performance at the United Cup, winning all the matches she played. These victories have given immense confidence to the star player and she is completely ready to take on challenges head-on at the Australian Open.

Speaking about the same after the United Cup, Gauff said, “Obviously this start of the season gives me a lot of confidence. “I feel like when I’m playing confident tennis, I’m playing great tennis. I definitely feel confident going into AO.” And it is not just Gauff who is positive of her campaign in Melbourne as experts are also rallying behind her. One such voice is coming from none other than Andy Roddick.

Expressing confidence in Gauff, Roddick made his thoughts clear during the off-season. “She’s going to sleep a lot better this off-season, and her steps are going to be a little bit lighter when she goes into problem-solving. There’s not as much scar tissue from 2024, she’s almost deleted all of it, and I think she’s prepped for a massive year next year.” Now, as the Australian Open unfolds, it will be interesting to see if Gauff can continue her dominance and overcome the challenges.