Coco Gauff has finally broken her silence on why she chose to skip the 2025 Mubadala Citi DC Open, offering a candid and strategic insight into her decision. Speaking at a pre-tournament press conference before the National Bank Open in Montreal, the world No. 2 revealed that the decision to opt out was driven by exhaustion from an intense and relentless WTA schedule. She explained: “It was nice to actually have some time in between. That’s why I didn’t play D.C., because I wanted to just have a real training block, which I hadn’t had in a while just because of how our schedule is” . With her grass-court swing proving especially taxing—featuring early exits at Wimbledon and other events—Gauff prioritized a sustained practice window over match play in Washington.
That brief pause comes after an underwhelming grass season that saw Gauff lose two early-round matches—including a first-round defeat at Wimbledon—despite being a two-time Grand Slam champion. The losses, compounded by a tightly packed calendar, left her with little time to regroup ahead of the hard‑court stretch. Her decision not to travel to Washington, then, reflected more than just avoiding fatigue—it was a calculated reset aimed at sharpening her game for bigger events ahead .
Instead of competing in D.C., Gauff set her sights on returning to action at the Canadian Open, a WTA Masters 1000 event. She voiced enthusiasm about the tournament’s format, which alternates annually between Montreal and Toronto. “Being back in Montreal is great, and it’s definitely refreshing. I like that they change it every other year just because it feels different each time,” she said, noting how the change of host city adds a fresh feel to the event each season . That mental shift—alongside extended training—gave her renewed clarity and focus ahead of the North American stretch that concludes with the U.S. Open.
Gauff’s timing of the decision underscores the physical and mental demands top players face on the tour. By dedicating herself to practice rather than playing a 500-level event, she embraced a long-term outlook. With Toronto and Cincinnati on the horizon followed by Flushing Meadows, Gauff chose to recharge rather than risk further decline in form. As she starts her Canadian campaign as the top seed, she aims to leverage the momentum from her training block and deliver a strong return to competition .
In short, Coco Gauff’s explanation reveals the fine line elite players walk between scheduling too much and preserving their edge. Her absence from Washington wasn’t about avoiding competition—it was about preparing smarter. As she commences her Canadian Open run, all eyes will be on how this strategic decision pays off. With renewed focus and a refreshed mindset, she’s hoping to translate training into success on the court where it matters.
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