She’s the 20-year-old American that Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley believes could go all the way at AO 2025, spoiling Aryna Sabalenka’s shot at a third consecutive women’s singles title in the process.
READ: ‘Coco’s gone up a notch’: Tiley’s tips for AO 2025
Entering the major on the back of a dominant straight sets victory over Iga Swiatek at the United Cup, here’s five reasons to love world No.3 Coco Gauff.
1. She's blazing a trail for women’s sport
Despite her tender age and having just a single Grand Slam to her name, Gauff is already one of the world’s highest paid female athletes, according to Forbes.
The 2023 US Open winner topped the earnings list last year, purportedly banking $34.4 million.
Triumphs at the China Open and WTA Finals in Saudi Arabia contributed to that but the majority – $25 million precisely – came from off-field exploits, proving Gauff is not just an exceptional athlete but an astute businesswoman.
An ambassador for New Balance, her picture is proudly displayed in a prominent store within the Melbourne Park precinct.
“2017 was a year where we started to bring athletes in, we started to have ambassadors, and Coco was part of the first induction, [with] Sydney McLaughlin, Gabby Thomas,” says New Balance Asia Pacific VP Darren Tucker.
“They weren’t just contracted because they were great athletes, they were contracted because they came from great families, they had great values, and they fitted in with the family values of our brand.”
2. She has incredible self-belief
The difference between a good athlete and a great athlete is no doubt their mentality.
Some players can lose a match before they’ve even stepped on the court.
Ask them about their chances and if the answer is anything other than self-orientated, a ‘it’ll be hard to beat so, and so,’ they may as well not start.
Gauff has been very open about the belief she has in herself to perform and speaks about it in a matter-of-fact manner that is neither arrogant nor off-putting.
Her run of winning form at the end of last season came after amicably parting ways with coach Brad Gilbert following a failed US Open title defence.
“Honestly, before every Grand Slam I have the belief I can win,” she says.
Moreover, she’s unaffected by negative criticism from online trolls and is part of a rare breed able to channel hate into winning motivation.
3. She's a vocal campaigner for social justice
Today athletes are often encouraged to follow the PR script, or say nothing at all, rather than voice their opinions and risk a backlash.
Not Gauff.
A flagbearer at the Paris Olympic Games, opposite LeBron James, she’s known to speak out on social justice issues.
In 2022, as an 18-year-old, she used her platform to call for an end to gun violence in the US, after advancing to the French Open final.
“It’s important, just as a person in the world, regardless of tennis player or not. I think, for me, it was just especially important just being in Europe and being where I know people globally around the world are for sure watching,” she said at the time.
“I think that this is a problem in other parts of the world, but especially in America, it’s a problem that’s, frankly, been happening over some years, but obviously now it’s getting more attention. But for me, it’s been an issue for years.”
Two years before that, Gauff delivered a moving speech at a Black Lives Matter rally. Her grandmother also broke down segregation barriers in 1961, becoming the first Black student to attend the all-white Seacrest High in Florida.
4. She’s the best mover (and shaker) on-court
We’re not just talking about the dance moves or victory celebrations with her team. Gauff’s game is impressive. She’s physical, agile, can play attacking shots from defensive positions, and has developed one of the most powerful serves in the women’s game.
Compatriot Ben Shelton at the US Open last year ventured to describe her explosive playing style and passionate approach.
“Such a great athlete,” he said. “Has so many qualities out there that resemble a male player. The way she moves and the way she can defend. You see something from her that’s special and different. She plays with a lot of passion. You can tell she cares out there. She’s into it every time she’s out on-court.”
Then there’s the stats. Gauff last year generated the most break point opportunities of any player at WTA-1000 events and was one of only three with 250+ for the season – alongside Swiatek and Sabalenka.
She’s the youngest player to win the WTA Finals since Maria Sharapova in 2004, and the youngest American since Serena Williams in 2001.
In addition, Gauff is one of only four Americans in the Open era to have claimed a major before turning 21, following in the footsteps of the Williams sisters, Mary Joe Fernandez and Chris Evert.
5. Her thoughtful and positive social media presence
Gauff lifts other women up and shares her own, honest, and sometimes self-deprecating insights on her game, tennis, sports in general, and life to some 1.8 million followers on Instagram.
And it’s not all edited, filtered and highlights-only content either.
A quick check of her socials verifies the one word ardent tennis fans describe her as: fun.
Gauff’s latest post? An admission that she didn’t know the Finals MVP award at the United Cup, which she won, was a thing.
“Probably the only time you can get a MVP in tennis, so that’s pretty cool. I think it’s one of the trophies I might actually leave outside the box.”