Coco Gauff gets complete support from Andy Roddick ahead of 2026 season

Former world No. 1 Andy Roddick has voiced his support for Coco Gauff as the 2026 season draws closer. He praised the youngster for her consistency over the past few years.

Gauff finished her season with a group-stage exit at the WTA Finals, but still enjoyed a strong year overall. She won her second Grand Slam title at the French Open and also lifted the trophy at the Wuhan Open this year.

Roddick backed Gauff to achieve long-term success on tour and highlighted her strengths when the odds are against her. Speaking on 'The Served podcast', he explained why he believes she remains the standout performer.

“It does not matter how much we see her struggle. We have to give credit where credit is due for Coco Gauff at some point. If the losses are ugly, I don’t care. She is the best in the world at being uncomfortable on a given day and getting a win,” Andy Roddicak said

Apart from winning two titles, Gauff also secured runner-up finishes in Madrid and Rome this year. She reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open and the semifinals of the China Open in Beijing.

Roddick added that Gauff had one of the best backhands on the tour. He also highlighted her ability to turn defense into attack.

“We are going to talk about how she is able to settle in. How she is able to apply her game. How she is able to create errors and stress for her opponent, to rely on her legs. She has one of the biggest and hardest backhands in the world that people do not talk about enough. She is able to work the forehand to drive traffic. She sets up her defense with patterns. It is not an accident," Andy Roddick said

"Coco Gauff is always number two or three in the world" - Andy Roddick praises the American's solidity on tour

Coco Gauff at the United Cup with Team USA during a Media Opportunity - Source: Getty

Coco Gauff has stayed inside the top three of the WTA Rankings for the past two years. Despite stiff competition from her peers, the American managed to win her maiden WTA Finals (2024) in Riyadh last year.

Roddick praised her fighting spirit and clinical nature on tour. He felt it would be tough to dethrone her from the top three spots in the WTA Rankings.

“To go through things that are physically and mentally not working and to get through it and win consistently is a superpower. There is no world where anyone else on earth can be dealing with 20 or 25 double faults and we are looking up and at scale, not for a tournament, every year she is two in the world, three in the world. She does not leave those positions," he added

Gauff will begin her season at the 2026 United Cup next year. She will begin her campaign against Solana Sierra of Argentina in the second singles round. Team USA is the defending champion at the event.

Edited by Aman Mohamed