Coco Gauff says women's tennis competitiveness 'more exciting' than Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz dominance

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Coco Gauff said that the variety and competitiveness in women's tennis is more exciting than the duopoly that Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have imposed on the men's side. Four different women won Grand Slam titles this year, while Sinner and Alcaraz split the four titles between them this season. Gauff is in Saudi Arabia attempting to retain her WTA Finals title that she claimed last year.

Gauff: Women's tennis 'more exciting' than Alcaraz/Sinner dominance

Video credit: SNTV

Coco Gauff compared the competitiveness across women's tennis to the dominance of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, saying she feels that women's tennis is "more exciting."

Gauff has returned to Riyadh as the defending champion at the 2025 WTA Finals, and has amassed a 47-14 win record this season with three titles to her name, with two coming in singles action.

In June, she won the French Open, defeating Aryna Sabalenka the day before Alcaraz beat Sinner in the men's final.

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All four of the women's finals of Grand Slam tournaments were won by different players this season, in contrast to Sinner and Alcaraz splitting the four men's finals between them.

Ahead of the season-ending championships, the world No. 3 reflected on the season.

"It's honestly great to have four different champions, because I feel like all the girls have had a competitive year," Gauff said.

"And I think that it makes the sport more exciting when there's multiple chances for something to happen."

Madison Keys kicked off the year by winning the Australian Open, after which Gauff claimed her first Roland-Garros title.

Wimbledon belonged to Iga Swiatek, and Sabalenka took the US Open to round a year of majors.

Sinner, meanwhile, picked up the Australian Open and Wimbledon, whilst Alcaraz prevailed in Paris and New York.

The pair have set themselves apart on the ATP Tour and are far ahead of their rivals in the rankings, having shared the last eight Grand Slam titles between them.

"Although Carlos and Jannik are doing great, there's talk about there needing to be a third person and I feel like to make it more interesting, it's better to have different champions than the same two," Gauff explained.

"I don't want to downplay anything, the rivalry they have is great and exciting for the sport too. But long term, I think it's more exciting for me as a fan, watching the semis and the quarters not knowing who is going to win, whereas knowing who's going to win, but that just shows how great they are."

Gauff is hoping to be the first singles competitor to retain the WTA Finals since Serena Williams won in 2012, 2013, and 2014. She beat Qinwen Zheng in last year's final.

She starts her defence against fellow American Jessica Pegula on Sunday and is fresh off a title win in Wuhan.

The defending champion beat Pegula in the final in Wuhan 6-4 7-5 and also faced her in the group stage in Riyadh a year ago, where she also won in straight sets.

Pegula has reached the semi-final stage or better in her last three tournaments, and has the edge over Gauff in their career head-to-head, but three of those wins came before 2024.

Gauff then faces Sabalenka, who has the top spot in the rankings tied up, and Jasmine Paolini to round off the Steffi Graf group before the semi-finals.

In the Serena Williams group, world No. 2 Swiatek kicks off against Keys.

What are the WTA Final Groups?

Steffi Graf Group

Aryna Sabalenka (1)
Coco Gauff (3)
Jessica Pegula (5)
Jasmine Paolini (8)

Serena Williams Group

Iga Swiatek (2)
Amanda Anisimova (4)
Elena Rybakina (6)
Madison Keys (7)

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