Coco Gauff has made improvements to her serving and her forehand. And the strides in both of those areas are among the reasons she's considered one of the few women ready to challenge two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka for the title at the Australian Open.

Australian Open begins January 12 in Melbourne, and the draws for the men’s and women’s singles are intriguing — and have thrown up some blockbuster first-round matches. The Athletic’s tennis writers,

Coco Gauff's impressive serving and forehand improvements are highlighted as she prepares for the Australian Open. With coaching from Matt Daly and Jean-Christophe "JC" Faurel, Gauff aims to build on her success,

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus plays a forehand return to Zheng Qinwen of China during the women's singles final at the Australian Open tennis championships at Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024. Credit: AP/Andy Wong

Coco Gauff had a rocky ride in 2024, but the year ended with a rollercoaster WTA Finals win. Gauff has carried that form over into 2025 in time for Melbourne.

Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek's rivalry intensifies as the Australian Open 2025 unfolds, with Gauff gaining momentum after consecutive victories.