Coco Gauff is facing a huge rankings drop as worrying slump in form continues

US Open champion Coco Gauff is about to enter the most significant phase of her season and she has to be concerned by her form.

Gauff was upset 6-4, 6-1 by fellow 20-year-old Diana in the WTA 1000 event in Toronto, with her worrying slump in form showing no sign of ending.

It was the first win against a top ten opponent for Shnaider and she is through to her first quarter-final at a WTA 1000 event.

The news for Gauff is not so positive as since reaching the semi-finals and losing to eventual champion Iga Swiatek at the French Open in June, Gauff has slipped to a series of disappointing defeats.

Now she is preparing to defend her Cincinnati and US Open titles in her next two events, with the 3,000 ranking points she won in those two events on the line.

Gauff will slip back down to No 3 in the WTA Rankings if Aryna Sabalenka continues to make progress in Toronto, but her rankings decline could be even more acute unless she finds a way to start winning matches.

Early defeats in Cincinnati and at the US Open in New York could see Gauff drop out of the top five of the WTA Rankings after the final major of 2024 and her fall may be even bigger if some of her top ten rivals make strong progress in the next two tournaments.

Gauff seems less concerned by her form than some of her doubters and after being named as one of Team USA’s flag bearers for the Paris Olympics, she admitted the decision to return from France and play in Toronto may have been a mistake.

She was beaten by fellow American Emma Navaro in a shock last-16 defeat at Wimbledon and then lost against Donna Vekic in another surprise result at the Olympics.

Gauff would have been hoping a return to her favourite North American hard courts would have fired her back into winning form, but the defeat against Shnaider continued an alarming slide in fortunes.

Now she is preparing to defend her Cincinnati and US Open titles in her next two events, with the 3,000 ranking points she won in those two events on the line.

Gauff will slip back down to No 3 in the WTA Rankings if Aryna Sabalenka continues to make progress in Toronto, but her rankings decline could be even more acute unless she finds a way to start winning matches.

Early defeats in Cincinnati and at the US Open in New York could see Gauff drop out of the top five of the WTA Rankings after the final major of 2024 and her fall may be even bigger if some of her top ten rivals make strong progress in the next two tournaments.

Gauff seems less concerned by her form than some of her doubters and after being named as one of Team USA’s flag bearers for the Paris Olympics, she admitted the decision to return from France and play in Toronto may have been a mistake.

“Sometimes I question like whether I should have played or not,” she said after the defeat against Shnaider.

“But at the end of the day I wanted to test myself and see if I would be able to, how I would do being mentally tired a little bit and physically fatigued.

“I said going into the tournament I didn’t have high expectations, but I wish I could have competed better today, even if it resulted in a loss. I don’t think I competed well.”

Gauff also suggested she is still on a steep learning curve, with her longevity on the WTA Tour blurring the reality that she is still only 20.

“When you have success young, I think people, especially like fans of the sport tend to forget you’re still developing,” added Gauff .

A lot of times when you look at reasons why some younger girls maybe don’t do as well as they get older it’s more mental, if anything. Overall, I’m just trying to put that in perspective, and honestly the Olympics was a great learning experience for me.

“Sometimes when you do well young you just, you want everything to happen now. A lot of them are 24, between 24 to 27 range, so I guess it puts it into perspective sometimes. I think I just learned to just trust in my training and trust in the journey, just talking with them and learning about their stories.

“All of them at some point did well young, just because they’re so good. Your game is going to reach its final form in a few years. I’m 20, so hopefully by like 24 I’m there.”