Coco Gauff Makes Awkward ‘Dominatrix’ Comment While Describing Her Rivalry with Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka

Coco Gauff will be meeting World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka for the 13th time in her career.

Coco Gauff Makes Awkward ‘Dominatrix’ Comment While Describing Her Rivalry with Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka

Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, Aryna Sabalenka (Image via X-TNT Sports, We Are Tennis France, Tiempo De Tenis)

In Short
  • Coco Gauff reached the Miami Open final after previously never advancing past the fourth round.
  • Gauff humorously described her rivalry with Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka, rejecting terms like "Daddy" and suggesting "dominatrix."
  • She aims to win the Miami Open, calling it her top priority outside of Grand Slam tournaments.

Before this year, Coco Gauff had never made it past the fourth round of the Miami Open. Gauff, in fact, was told not to compete in her home event by her team because of a nerve-related issue she suffered during her third-round clash with Alexandra Eala in Indian Wells.

Gauff didn’t listen to their advice and played. Well, she has progressed to the final and will be competing with none other than defending champion Aryna Sabalenka. At the press conference after her 6-1, 6-1 victory over Karolina Muchova, Gauff was asked to describe her rivalry with the Belarusian by a journalist who told her about the ‘daddy’ term ATP players often use if they beat someone three times.

I don’t think so? We don’t have anything like that. I don’t know. I mean, guys, I feel like they’re able to just—well, I don’t know. I feel a lot of American guys are a little bit on the upper side, so they’re able to say this. But for me, I don’t think of it like that. I’ve also been on the other end of it, too. I mean, like Iga [Swiatek], she beat me so many times in a row, so I don’t want her to be considered my Dad. But I was able to reverse it—so now we’re both each other’s Daddies? I don’t know.

Gauff, who is tied with four-time Grand Slam singles champion 6-6, lost their last meeting in the round-robin stage of last year’s WTA Finals. Against Swiatek, Gauff trails 5-11 in the head-to-head record but has won their previous four meetings.

Yeah…I don’t think Daddy’s the term. I don’t think Mommy’s the term, either. I don’t know—dominatrix?(laughs). I don’t know. But I don’t want a term, because I’m going to be— I know I have some matches where I’m on the losing end of that, too.

Coco Gauff added

Before this year, Gauff had never reached a final in the two American WTA 1000 events and produced her best performance when she reached the semifinals of Indian Wells in 2024. Gauff got back to the No.3 spot in the live rankings, removing Iga Swiatek, after her semifinal victory.

Coco Gauff names the tournament she wants to win the most outside of Grand Slams

Coco Gauff tasted victory in Grand Slam singles events for the first time at the 2023 US Open by defeating Aryna Sabalenka. Last year, she upset the four-time Major singles champion again, this time, in the French Open final.

Coco Gauff
Coco Gauff (Image via X/Game, Set & Talk)

After reaching the quarterfinals in Miami for the first time, Gauff sat for an interview with Tennis Channel, during which she revealed that the Miami Open is the tournament outside the four Majors she wants to win the most.

Yeah, I think outside of the Slams it’s probably the number one tournament that I want to win, and then Indian Wells is number two. Yeah, I think that’s pretty much… I mean, obviously, there are other tournaments I want to win too, but if I had to pick one, I would definitely pick Miami outside of the Slams.

Gauff is chasing her fourth WTA 1000 singles title. The last time she won a title at this level was at the 2025 Wuhan Open against Jessica Pegula. She has yet to win another singles title since that win.

This year, after the USA’s United Cup exit, Gauff lost to Elina Svitolina in the Australian Open semifinal, following which, she suffered an opening-round exit at the Qatar Open. The Ukrainian ace once again knocked her out in the Dubai Tennis Championships semifinal.

Also read: Former World No.1 Criticizes Mirra Andreeva for failing to handle Pressure Following Recent Results