Coco Gauff Backs WTA’s Controversial Trans Policy As It ‘Protects Fairness in Women’s Sports’

Coco Gauff has now given her verdict on the WTA’s controversial eligibility policy. The WTA has mandated a once-in-a-lifetime test for the SRY gene that helps to determine biological sex. The test can be conducted through a cheek swab or ​a blood test.

Gauff said the topic is complex when asked to give her opinion at the press conference at the Canadian Open. She made it clear that although she supports the trans community, she also backs the WTA’s policy, believing it can help maintain fairness in women’s tennis.

As far as that, I mean, I understand the reasoning behind it. I do think that this kind of conversation has created a lot of animosity towards the trans community, which I’m not really a big fan of, but I also understand the need to, I guess, the biological difference and the need to protect that and preserve that. So I think it’s a conversation that is very nuanced.

A negative result will make the players eligible to compete, while a positive result will not ban them permanently, but they will be ineligible to play temporarily until they undergo further medical assessments. The previous policy had allowed trans athletes to compete.

So, yes, I guess I kind of agree with trying to protect the fairness in women’s sports. But I also do not like the attack that it is creating. People who don’t really care, but just want to use this as a reason to attack the trans community. So I’m not really a big fan of that either. So I don’t really know how to answer really this question in a way that people aren’t going to spin it. But as far as where I stand, I definitely support the trans community, but I also support the need of creating fairness in sport too.

Coco Gauff added

At present, there are no known transgender athletes playing professional tennis. Renee Richards, a former WTA player, is the only known transgender player in the history of tennis.

Coco Gauff on how she deals with online criticism

Coco Gauff kicked off her campaign in Toronto with a straight-set win over Kayla Day. Gauff will be hoping to end her title drought, which she failed to do in the two finals she played this year against Aryna Sabalenka and Elina Svitolina at the Indian Wells Open and Italian Open, respectively.

Before arriving in Toronto, Gauff played her career’s first semifinal at Wimbledon, only to lose in three sets to eventual runner-up Karolina Muchova. The two-time Grand Slam singles champion, at the press conference after her latest win, was asked how she deals with the negative comments online.

I’ll just block it if it’s something I don’t like. Sometimes I will respond to some people or troll people. I also do like to, like, whenever somebody comments something mean, I might just comment back like an emoji, like a smiley face or something. I feel like that riles people up.

Gauff will next be facing Maria Sakkari at the Canadian Open. The Greek ace, who went past Zeynep Sonmez, trails 5-6 in the head-to-head matchups versus the American.

Gauff is a three-time quarterfinalist in Canada, reaching the stage in 2021, 2022, and 2023, but last year, her run ended in the fourth round. The last time Gauff won a WTA 1000 title was at the 2025 Wuhan Open, but since then, she has not yet won another title. Last year, the 22-year-old won two titles from four finals.

Reigning Canadian Open champion Victoria Mboko is not competing because of a knee injury she suffered during the Queen’s Club Championships.

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