STWF Sports | Dec. 10, 2025 – At just 21 years old, Coco Gauff has already achieved more than many players manage in an entire career. A two-time Grand Slam champion, the face of a new generation of American tennis, and now the highest-paid female athlete in the world, Gauff enters 2026 not only with soaring expectations—but with the momentum and commercial power of a global superstar.

Yet one milestone still eludes her: the WTA World No. 1 ranking, a summit currently guarded by Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek, who have defined the sport over the past three seasons. But with another Grand Slam title added to her name in 2025 and a revamped game heading into the new year, Gauff is closing in.

And her off-court empire continues to grow just as quickly.

A New Partnership for a Global Icon

As she prepares for the start of the 2026 season in January, Gauff’s team announced another blockbuster move: a global ambassador deal with Mercedes-Benz, expanding a sponsorship portfolio already loaded with some of the most influential brands in sports.

Gauff’s current partners include New Balance, Rolex, Bose, Head, Emirates, UPS, Microsoft, Meta, Fanatics, and American Eagle, among others. Her net worth is now reportedly soaring toward $50 million—remarkable for an athlete still early in her prime.

“Tennis has always been about more than just winning,” Gauff said upon announcing the partnership. “It’s about growth, passion, and determination. That’s why this partnership with Mercedes-Benz feels so special.”

It’s easy to forget that her first endorsement came at just 14 years old with New Balance and that she stunned the tennis world as a 15-year-old at Wimbledon with her electrifying upset of Venus Williams. Today, she stands as one of sports’ most recognizable figures—her reach extending far beyond the court.

A Season of Highs, Lows, and Lessons Learned

Gauff’s 2025 season was defined by extremes. Her crowning moment came in June, when she claimed her second career Grand Slam title at Roland Garros, outlasting Aryna Sabalenka on the red clay of Paris. She also reached WTA 1000 finals in both Madrid and Rome and picked up the Wuhan title late in the season, bringing her career singles tally to 11 titles.

But there were setbacks as well. A first-round exit at Wimbledon and a fourth-round loss at the US Open highlighted inconsistency—especially in her serve. Gauff led the WTA Tour with 431 double faults, a statistic that dominated conversation around her late-season form.

Despite that, she finished among the tour’s elite in both prize money and rankings, closing out the year just outside the world No. 1 position.

The Path to No. 1: Experts Believe It’s Coming

Former Serena Williams coach Rick Macci, one of the most respected voices in player development, believes a new Gauff is emerging in 2026.

“Serve will be a weapon,” Macci wrote on social media, predicting technical improvements that could transform her biggest liability into a strength. “Forehand more compact… she has the best defense on tour. With these additions she will be knocking on that number one door.”

Gauff has never climbed past No. 2 in the world—reaching the spot most recently in August 2025—and hasn’t fallen outside the top five since 2024. Her consistency, even in imperfect stretches, places her among the sport’s elite.

Now the question becomes whether she can surpass Sabalenka and Swiatek, whose rivalry has shaped the WTA landscape since 2022. Gauff already owns major wins over both players, but gaining the top ranking requires sustained dominance over an entire season.

2026: The Year Gauff Arrives at the Summit?

With a polished team around her, a global brand behind her, and the experience of both triumph and turbulence, Gauff enters 2026 as a player fully capable of seizing control of the women’s game.

Her athleticism, court coverage, and defensive instincts are already unmatched. If the serve becomes a weapon and the forehand stabilizes, Gauff will not just chase No. 1—she will demand it.

As the tennis world looks ahead to the Australian Open in January, a new narrative begins to take shape:
Coco Gauff isn’t just competing for titles anymore. She’s competing for the throne.