Coco Gauff Clarifies Why She Called American Fans ‘the Worst’ After Backlash: “I Wish They Were As Passionate”

Coco Gauff won all her matches at the United Cup, where Team USA is bidding to defend its title.

Coco Gauff Clarifies Why She Called American Fans ‘the Worst’ After Backlash: “I Wish They Were As Passionate”

Coco Gauff (Image via X/AllAboutHQ)

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All Coco Gauff said regarding the American tennis fans was from her observation, and it was not meant to criticize them. In the pre-tournament press conference at the United Cup, the World No.3 said the American fans are the worst when it comes to traveling overseas to support their players.

As expected, her comment did not go down well with fans, particularly the American ones, some of whom pointed out that traveling overseas is hard due to financial, work, and family reasons. Amidst criticism, Gauff took to X and wrote that she fully understands the situation and went on to explain her point and said she’s grateful for all the support, no matter how big or small it is.

lol I ‘m going to clarify because people are dragging this out of context. I ‘m not expecting people to travel to tournaments to watch us play. But there are many tournaments that we have in america and abroad where americans are already attending regardless of who is playing (excluding us open) where people come and don’t really cheer for their coutnrymen player. Whereas those from smaller countries come with their colors and flags and it is clear on who they are supporting.

Team USA, also the defending champion, is placed in Group A along with Argentina and Spain. They first went past Argentina 2-1 thanks to Gauff’s win over Solana Sierra, and later her and Christian Harrison‘s win over the pair of Maria Lourdes Carle and Guido Andreozzi. Gauff saved the USA from the brink of defeat after Taylor Fritz‘s unexpected defeat to Sebastian Baez.

Trust me I understand the financial aspect of things and know tennis is not accessible for everyone, it was more of a comment for those who are already attending and how I wish they were as passionate as those from other countries more specifically team events. People don’t owe me anything I was just honestly answering a question I was asked and it was simply an observation I noticed about other countries vs mine that is all.

Coco Gauff added

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In their next group-stage match, Gauff went past Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, and later Fritz helped his team get a 2-0 lead after defeating Jaume Munar. In mixed doubles, Gauff and Harrison breezed past Yvonne Cavalle Reimers and Inigo Cervantes. Last year in the United Cup, the USA defeated Poland.

Coco Gauff shares her goal for the 2026 season

During the pre-tournament press conference at the United Cup, Coco Gauff shared that her goal for the 2026 season is to be more consistent. Last year, after a great campaign at the United Cup, Gauff struggled to make deep runs in the next few tournaments she played.

Coco Gauff (via X/Jose Morgado)
Coco Gauff (via X/Jose Morgado)

I think just consistency. I would like to go deep in all the Slams this year. Yeah, obviously, I would like to touch [the] No. 1 ranking. That would be pretty cool. But yeah, I think just being consistent throughout the year.

When the clay swing started, Gauff made three consecutive finals. She lost the Madrid Open to Aryna Sabalenka and the Italian Open to home favorite Jasmine Paolini, but later beat the Belarusian to win her career’s first French Open singles title.

After that win, Gauff’s form once again dropped, with her next event win not coming before the Wuhan Open. At the WTA Finals, where she was playing as the defending champion, Gauff failed to progress to the semifinals.

After the United Cup, the 21-year-old will be bidding for her third Grand Slam singles title at the Australian Open, which will commence on January 18. Gauff was the semifinalist in 2024, while last year, her run ended in the quarterfinals.

Also read: Belinda Bencic Sides with Iga Swiatek, Considers ‘Battle of the Sexes’ Match as ‘Something Else’