Coco Gauff Calls for Women to Play Finals Last Instead of Men and Take Center Stage in Tennis

Coco Gauff is yet to progress beyond the fourth round of Wimbledon and will be looking to improve on that at the upcoming tournament.

Coco Gauff Calls for Women to Play Finals Last Instead of Men and Take Center Stage in Tennis

Coco Gauff (via X/Tennis Channel)

Despite an inconsistent start to the year, Coco Gauff had a great clay court season, reaching the Italian Open final and being crowned the champion at Roland Garros, winning her maiden title, at the clay-court Grand Slam.

Her grass season though was marked with an opening round exit in Berlin after a straight-set defeat to the eventual runner-up, Wang Xinyu. The World No. 2 will commence her Wimbledon campaign against Dayana Yastremska. Speaking to the press at Wimbledon, Gauff suggested having a tournament end with the women’s final instead of the men’s:

It would be really good if the women finished a tournament, but they also have to play three out of five sets. I know that extra day makes a big difference for them. Especially in the Masters/WTA 1000 and such, I think it would be a good idea to change it. That would put women on a bigger platform by having the most talked-about match in a tournament.

Gauff has played three Grand Slam singles finals, winning two of them. However, she is yet to reach a final on grass. The 21-year-old is yet to progress beyond the fourth round of Wimbledon and will be looking to improve on that with the upcoming tournament, coupled with the added confidence she has gained by winning the Roland Garros last month. But the World No. 2 will have to face a pretty tough draw.

Coco Gauff’s Wimbledon Draw

In the second round at SW19, Coco Gauff could meet either Victoria Azarenka, who holds a 1-0 record against Gauff, or Anastasia Zakharova, whom Gauff has never faced before.

Coco Gauff
Coco Gauff (Image via X/The Tennis Letter)

The third round may bring a match against Sofia Kenin, Jessica Bouzas Maneiro or Taylor Townsend. Gauff holds a narrow 3-2 edge over Kenin but faced defeat in her only match against Townsend. Gauff is yet to compete against Bouzas Maneiro.

In the fourth round, possible opponents include Daria Kasatkina, against whom Gauff is winless in three attempts, Liudmila Samsonova, whom Gauff has defeated thrice. Potential quarterfinal opponents include 2022 champion Elena Rybakina, Iga Swiatek, Elina Svitolina, Clara Tauson, or Marta Kostyuk.

If Gauff reaches the semifinals, she might face defending champion Barbora Krejcikova, Jessica Pegula, Mirra Andreeva, Emma Navarro, or Diana Shnaider. A finals appearance could set up a clash with Aryna Sabalenka, Jasmine Paolini, Madison Keys or Qinwen Zheng.

Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka share a light-hearted moment ahead of Wimbledon

Aryna Sabalenka came under fire after the Roland Garros finals for her comments about Coco Gauff. Her comments were deemed to be disrespectful to the champion. The World No. 1 was extensively called out for her lack of class during defeat.

Sabalenka, however, later apologized to Gauff. The Belarusian explained how she did not have any intention to offend Gauff but was rather angry and upset with herself for her error-stricken performance. Speaking to the press conference about the incident, Gauff remarked:

I’m not a resentful person. I was talking to my circle about it. If she apologized, not even publicly, more than privately, that would be fine, and I would be willing to move forward. She did it, and she did it again when I saw her before training. It’s water under the bridge.

Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka
Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka made a TikTok together (via The Tennis Letter)

The two have shared a lighthearted moment after arriving at Wimbledon, making TikToks together and dancing on the court together, showing fans their rapport and warm relationship. It was a beautiful testament of accepting one’s mistakes and also forgiving others.

Also Read: Novak Djokovic Defends Aryna Sabalenka Over Misunderstood Post-Match Reaction Towards Coco Gauff at Roland Garros