Coco Gauff Opens Up About Her Experience as a Black Woman in Sports and Shares Advice for the Next Generation

Coco Gauff claimed her second career Grand Slam at the 2025 French Open.

Coco Gauff Opens Up About Her Experience as a Black Woman in Sports and Shares Advice for the Next Generation

Coco Gauff at the Canadian Open draw ceremony (image via Jimmie48 Photography)

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Coco Gauff is currently one of the best players in the women’s circuit. For the past three years, she has cemented her place in the top 5 of the WTA rankings and has won two Grand Slams in her career. She has also been one of the biggest advocates of women’s sports and players of color having a sense of belonging in tennis.

Gauff maintained her status for the third consecutive year as the highest-earning female tennis star according to Forbes. She also earned a coveted spot on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list. Off the court, she became an ambassador for Miu Miu Beauty’s new fragrance, Miutine.

On the court, she also made a name for herself when she reached the fourth round of the 2019 Wimbledon Championships at the age of 15. Four years later, she achieved her biggest dream at the US Open, where she won her maiden Grand Slam title. This was over a year after she reached the Roland Garros final.

She won her first Grand Slam at the 2023 US Open after beating Aryna Sabalenka. She claimed her second major this season at the French Open, beating Sabalenka again. The 21-year-old then went on to claim her second title of the year at the Wuhan Open after beating Jessica Pegula in the final.

In an interview with Teen Vogue, Gauff admitted that she used to follow makeup tutorials on YouTube and cover certain features she did not feel fit the conventional beauty standards when she was a younger player. Now, however, Gauff is glad that she no longer believes that to be true again, as she has matured:

I definitely think it’s evolved a lot. When I was younger, I used to follow all the YouTube tutorials and do [different trends], but now I’ve become more comfortable with my skin. I used to put on makeup to kind of cover those features [I didn’t like], and now I feel like I put it on to emphasize what I already love about myself. I think it’s just made me more confident in who I am and feel more confident when I’m stepping out.

Gauff has been enjoying her pre-season quietly as she’s yet to feature in any exhibition tournament. However, she’s expected to kick off her 2026 season at the United Cup alongside ATP star Taylor Fritz. The American star helped the United States of America win the title in January and will be hoping to defend it.

Coco Gauff reveals how she feels confident on and off the court

Coco Gauff’s first final in 2025 was at the Madrid Open, where she lost to Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets. But she earned her revenge weeks later at the French Open, beating the World No.1 in straight sets. But after that, she failed to make her mark at any Grand Slam tournament, crashing out early in Wimbledon and in the fourth round at the US Open.

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

However, she bounced back in form to win the Wuhan Open in October. During the aforementioned interview, she was asked how she feels confident on and off the court. Gauff replied:

On the court, definitely the way I dress and the way that I appear. I feel like being a woman in the sport, what I wear is important to me and makes me feel confident. Off the court, similar, my style. But, like I said, smelling good. Even if I don’t have a cute outfit, I like when people walk past me and be like “What do you have on?”

Gauff’s last tournament in 2025 was at the WTA Finals in Riyadh. There, she managed to beat only Jasmine Paolini but lost to Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula. The American star was expected to defend the title, but she ended up crashing out in the round robin stage.

Also Read: Garbine Muguruza Defends Aryna Sabalenka’s Claims on Transgender Athletes