Coco Gauff has set her sights on becoming world No 1 at some point in 2025 and she has already hit that mark in one version of the tennis rankings.
Gauff has a career-high ranking of No 2 from June 2024 and will be striving to push for a big haul of ranking points at the Australian Open over the next few days.
Now she has been given a mid-tournament boost after the latest UTR Ratings confirmed she has jumped to No 1.
This UTR rating is endorsed by 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic and uses an algorithm that calculates the rankings based on recent form rather than the year-round calculation of the ATP Ranking.
Victories against higher-ranked played are worth more in the UTR list than the official ATP or WTA Ranking, meaning they offer up a more accurate reflection of the current form at the top of the game.
The UTR Rankings are based on the current form from the last few weeks and months rather than reflecting results that occurred up to a year ago, with the system created to promote fair and competitive play across the tennis world.
All players, regardless of age, gender, geography, or skill level, are rated on the same scale between 1.00 and 16.50 based on actual match results.
The UTR Ranking is open to players of all levels of the game and the algorithm used provides an intriguing insight at the top of the game.
While the WTA Rankings is the official list used by tournaments when they decide on seedings for big tournaments, Gauff’s position at the top of the UTR ratings comes after she finished last season on a big high with a win in a WTA 1000 event in China before she won the WTA Finals in impressive fashion.
Gauff then performed well as she beat Iga Swuatek in the United Cup to help Team USA lift the trophy and headed into the Australian Open with a relaxed mindset after insisting she is willing to battle on days when she is not at her best.
“I think for me it’s like I know I’ve been playing well, but you can’t play well all the time,” said Gauff.
“I know there’s going to be some tough moments in this tournament. Hopefully I can get through them.
“But I think just going in, entering with no pressure, just trying to stay in the moment and enjoy it as much as possible. That’s what I’ve been doing the last few tournaments. The results have obviously been good because of that. But just trying to learn to do that even when the results aren’t so good.
Australian Open fashion: The best on-court looks – ft. Carlos Alcaraz, Coco Gauff
Coco Gauff backed in world No 1 prediction by legendary coach ahead of Australian Open title bid
“As athletes, we get caught up and losing feels like the end of the world, and winning feels like something we should do, not something we should be grateful for.
“No one makes us feel like that except ourselves. I think I just realized it’s never that important. If I can step off the court and say I tried my best, that’s all I can ask for.
“I think every time I go onto the court, I just tell myself to try my best. If I miss a shot, most matches are decided by a few points. I think I just realize sometimes they’re going to go my way and sometimes they’re not.”
Gauff beat Britain’s Jodie Burrage to move into the third round at the Australian Open on Wednesday and her confidence is rising as she looks to claim a second Grand Slam title of her career.
This is the latest UTR rating that is constantly updated, with Briatin’s Emma Raducanu up to No 17 after her impressive win against 26th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova in the opening round.
1. Coco Gauff (USA)
2. Iga Swiatek (POL)
3. Zheng Qinwen (CHN)
4. Aryna Sabalenka (BLR)
5. Elena Rybakina (KAZ)
6. Paula Badosa (ESP)
7. Madison Keys (USA)
8. Karolina Muchova (CZE)
9. Jessica Pegula (USA)
10. Mirra Andreeva (RUS)
11. Naomi Osaka (JPN)
12. Yulia Putintseva (KAZ)
READ NEXT: Emma Raducanu’s big problem is nothing new – she should have found an answer
