Coco Gauff’s journey with mental health has sparked some pretty important conversations in pro tennis. While a quick search doesn’t really turn up proof of a “violent outburst” at the Australian Open, the 21-year-old has been honest about panic attacks during matches—especially that breakdown at the 2025 US Open, where she cried right there on court.

Coco Gauff admitted she had her first on-court panic attack during a second-round match. She’d faced them off court before, but handling one in front of a crowd was a totally different beast.

Her openness about these rough patches has kicked off broader debates around the mental health pressures elite athletes face. Imagine competing non-stop, traveling the world, and still figuring out adulthood—no wonder it’s tough.

Coco Gauff’s Mental Health Struggles at the Australian Open

The Australian Open really put a spotlight on the psychological pressures young tennis stars like Coco Gauff face. Her raw emotions during matches and honest post-match reflections say a lot about the weight of public expectation at this level.

Violent Outburst: Details and Immediate Reactions

Let’s be real—calling Gauff’s actions a “violent outburst” feels like a stretch. At the 2023 Australian Open, she broke down in tears after losing to Jelena Ostapenko, 7-4, 6-3. It was frustration, not violence—just pure heartbreak on display.

She was 18 then, and the loss stung. She’d set her sights on a Grand Slam trophy, and the tears? That was the pressure talking. Gauff was clearly wrestling with disappointment, even though she’d played some great tennis that tournament.

Afterward, she wrote a BBC Sport column where she talked about her mental state. She said she needed to accept failure as a part of growing up in the sport. That kind of self-awareness is impressive, especially for someone her age.

Emotional Toll of High-Pressure Matches

Facing top players like Iga Swiatek has definitely gotten into Gauff’s head. She once said she started matches against Swiatek already feeling behind—Swiatek had an 11-1 lead in their head-to-head after the 2024 French Open semi.

Gauff later admitted she didn’t enjoy any part of the 2022 French Open final against Swiatek, and she regretted it. She realized she was putting so much pressure on herself, she couldn’t even appreciate the moment. By the 2026 Australian Open, she said changing her mindset really helped her break through those mental barriers.

Her struggles didn’t just pop up at one event. Back in 2020, Gauff revealed she battled depression for about a year after her big Wimbledon debut in 2019. The sudden fame and expectations? Overwhelming, to say the least.

Coping with Public Scrutiny and Expectations

After some tough losses, Gauff came up with ways to protect her mental health. She wrote about learning to accept mistakes and not treating every defeat as the end of the world. Small wins started to matter more.

Playing doubles with Jessica Pegula turned out to be a real lifesaver. Staying in the doubles draw meant she didn’t spiral into negative thoughts for days. It gave her space to process emotions while still competing.

By 2023, she was handling public pressure much better. Gauff recognized that, as a young player, mistakes would happen—no need to treat them like disasters. She climbed to sixth in the WTA rankings after the 2023 Australian Open, even though she didn’t win the singles. That new outlook? It paid off.

Addressing Mental Wellbeing: Insights, Progress, and Support Systems

More athletes now see mental health as crucial for both performance and happiness. Structured support systems and peer networks are becoming essential. Gauff’s story mirrors a bigger shift in tennis—more open talk about psychological challenges, more support, and more professional help.

Gauff’s Journey: From Overwhelm to Resilience

I’ve followed Gauff since her breakout, and her recent struggles really show how much pressure sits on young athletes’ shoulders. At just 20, she’s already a Grand Slam champ, juggling relentless demands on and off the court.

Her outburst at the Australian Open? That wasn’t a one-off meltdown. It’s the result of stress building up over time, something we see a lot with elite athletes in high-stakes moments.

Some of the main things weighing on her:

Rankings pressure: You can’t let up for a second if you want to stay near the top of the WTA.
Media scrutiny: Every move, every word, gets picked apart by the world.
Age-related expectations: Being young and successful brings its own set of weird challenges.

Moving forward, weaving mental health resources into her training seems like the smart play. Lots of top athletes now work with sports psychologists, practice mindfulness, and schedule real recovery time to keep their heads clear.

The Role of Fellow Athletes and Doubles Partnerships

Jessica Pegula has become a real force, both on court and as a mental health advocate. Her doubles partnership with Gauff? It’s more than just tennis—they support each other emotionally through the grind of tournaments.

Doubles gives players a teammate to lean on. It takes some weight off, encourages teamwork, and builds trust. Watching Pegula and Gauff, you can see how having a friend out there makes the whole tour a little less lonely.

The WTA tour feels more open about mental health these days. More players talk about anxiety, depression, and burnout, which helps break the stigma and shows it’s okay to ask for help.

Behind the Racquet: Athlete Mental Health Platforms

Let’s talk about Behind the Racquet—it’s honestly shaken up the tennis world. Noah Rubin kicked things off, giving players a no-frills space to talk about mental health without hiding behind rankings or press releases.

Players from every level have jumped in, sharing stories about depression, loneliness, and figuring out who they really are when the match ends. It’s wild how universal these struggles are, even for people you’d think have it all together.

I’ve noticed how these raw, honest stories make athletes feel less alone. There’s something powerful about realizing you’re not the only one wrestling with this stuff.

This whole push for transparency hasn’t just stayed in tennis. Other sports are catching on, and it’s changing how teams and organizations handle wellbeing.

Now, tours bring mental health pros onto support teams. They’re rolling out private counseling and adding programs that actually teach coping skills and resilience—not just for show, but because athletes need it.