Kim Clijsters claims Coco Gauff is doing something she’s never seen before ahead of the US Open

Gauff earned real praise for her performances at the Cincinnati Open, and deservedly so.

Which WTA player will leave the US Open as the world number one?

Four women are in contention!

Former world number one Kim Clijsters has now delivered her verdict on Gauff ahead of the US Open.

Kim Clijsters claims Coco Gauff is now more ‘assertive and aggressive’ than ever before

During the latest episode of the ‘Love All Podcast‘, Clijsters shared her thoughts on Gauff’s game.

“I was very impressed watching Coco [Gauff] throughout the week. There was a different energy about her on the court. There was a confidence that I just felt was in her body language, and the way she has always been an incredible mover and probably the best mover out there,” said Clijsters.

Coco Gauff at the Cincinnati Open

• 2R [WIN] vs Liudmila Samsonova, 2-6, 6-4, 6-1
• 3R [WIN] vs Ann Li, 6-1, 7-6
• 4R [WIN] vs Marie Bouzkova, 6-3, 6-2
• QF [WIN] vs Marta Kostyuk, 6-2, 6-2
• SF [WIN] vs Sara Bejlek, 6-4, 6-1
• F [WIN] vs Jessica Pegula, 6-2, 6-4

“I feel like when her first two shots of the rally are going great and she has been a great returner, at times you could argue that the forehand return could set her off, with a little bit of a negative at the start of the rally.

“But I feel like this tournament, she looked so much more confident. When she is able to return well with the forehand, I feel the serve looked incredible.

“She just looked more confident in her first two shots of the rally, and I think that is what sets her up and creates a freedom in her shots.

“She was a lot more assertive and aggressive with the forehand than I have ever seen her play.”

Clijsters believes Gauff has developed a ‘deadly weapon’ which helped her win the Cincinnati Open title.

“The combination with Coco of hitting the heavier forehand that she has – she hits it with a bit of top spin, and it pops up; a lot of the players don’t like that,” she said.

“Then the combination with where she can also be a bit more aggressive and go for the winners is a deadly weapon, I feel like, coming off of Coco’s racket.

“It’s really nice to see that. I feel like all the work that she has put in and probably the critics that have the questions that she has had to answer over time about the serve, about the forehand, is all falling into place, and the hard work is paying off.”

Gauff’s hard work has certainly paid off as she now heads into the US Open full of confidence, looking like a real title contender.

And, if she were to win the title, she could become world number one for the very first time.

Official WTA Rankings

Admittedly, she would need other results to go her way, but Gauff deserves credit for putting herself in this position.

Coco Gauff’s US Open record ahead of 2026 title bid

Gauff arrives in New York as one of the title favourites.

However, her record at the US Open since winning the title in 2023 does leave a lot to be desired.

Coco Gauff’s US Open results

• 2018 – Lost in Q1 to Heather Watson, 4-6, 1-6
• 2019 – Lost in 3R to Naomi Osaka 3-6, 0-6
• 2020 – Lost in 1R to Anastasija Sevastova, 3-6, 7-5, 4-6
• 2021 – Lost in 2R to Sloane Stephens, 4-6, 2-6
• 2022 – Lost in QF to Caroline Garcia, 3-6, 4-6
• 2023 – Champion
• 2024 – Lost in 4R to Emma Navarro, 3-6, 6-4, 3-6
• 2025 – Lost in 4R to Naomi Osaka, 3-6, 2-6

Gauff lost in the fourth round on her last two visits to Flushing Meadows.

Whether she can bounce back in 2026 and take her second US Open title remains to be seen.

The 2026 US Open main draw begins on Sunday, August 30.