Connect with us

CELEBRITY

Coco Gauff on wanting to win TEN Grand Slams, living at home with her parents despite…see more

Published

on

Coco Gauff on wanting to win TEN Grand Slams, living at home with her parents despite $15M prize money – and how she’ll go all the way at Wimbledon

When I first met Coco Gauff in 2019, the 15-year-old talked about her exams, her parents and her ambition to be the best tennis player of all-time.

She had just qualified for Wimbledon and was about to face her hero Venus Williams in the first round. Her eyes seemed wide with wonder, yet narrowed with focus all at the same time.

It was clear this articulate teenager was something special, but no-one was ready for the sporting and cultural phenomenon that was about to be unleashed.

Five years later, we meet again on the same day, the Saturday before Wimbledon, to reflect on that extraordinary Championships debut and what has happened since.

Gauff is now a Grand Slam champion and has transcended tennis, ever since as a 16-year-old she passionately addressed a crowd outside Delray Beach city hall in the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer.

In 2019 she was in training gear, but now Gauff is dressed like the superstar she has become — cascading braids dyed blonde just last week, a yellow top thrown over one shoulder and that ubiquitous athlete’s accessory, the bucket hat.

Gauff talks about how her career goals have changed, why she is finally ready to move out of her parents’ house and how looking back to that time five years ago helped her win her first Grand Slam title, last year’s US Open.

But first, that summer of 2019 and Gauff begins the story on Florida’s gulf coast.

‘I lost first round in qualifying in Bonita springs, a 100k tournament, and Mom and Dad were like, ‘OK, you need to figure out what you’re going to do’ and then this happened!’ she says.

‘I remember feeling super confident going into Wimbledon qualifiers that I was going to make it to the main draw. I drew the first seed in the first round and won and the other two matches were kind of a blur.

Then obviously the Venus match was insane and that was the moment I thought, ‘Maybe my dreams are closer than I realised’.’ She was on the cover of teen Vogue a few months later and her charisma, ability and vow to ‘change the world with her racket’ enchanted the public.

‘You see those movies about people’s life changing overnight and you don’t think it will happen to you, but it did,’ she says.

‘I didn’t think my story was going to be so captivating for the world to watch, but it was and people loved me for it. I loved that people had joy in watching me play.’

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Historic Taylor Swift Announcement Turns Heads. About... Full Details Below 👇⬇️
CELEBRITY44 minutes ago

Historic Taylor Swift Announcement Turns Heads. About… Full Details Below 👇⬇️

CELEBRITY3 days ago

Cristiano Ronaldo’s 15-year-old son unexpectedly found his biological mother after a five-year search. Cristiano Ronaldo revealed a shocking secret…

Patrick Mahomes & Brittany Matthews Post First Close-up Pic Of Baby Girl!shares his newborn’s STRANGE condition, and the whole family is in a gloomy atmosphere See 10 photos and full article here👇👇
CELEBRITY3 days ago

Patrick Mahomes & Brittany Matthews Post First Close-up Pic Of Baby Girl!shares his newborn’s STRANGE condition, and the whole family is in a gloomy atmosphere See 10 photos and full article here👇👇

Just in: Congratulations Baby on the Way! Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce Share Sweet Pregnancy Announcement with Heartwarming Ultrasound…See more
CELEBRITY4 days ago

Just in: Congratulations Baby on the Way! Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce Share Sweet Pregnancy Announcement with Heartwarming Ultrasound…See more

BREAKING : Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce Welcome Baby Boy: A New Chapter Begins…See More
CELEBRITY4 days ago

BREAKING : Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce Welcome Baby Boy: A New Chapter Begins…See More

Another tragedy has struck the boxing World, as daughter of boxing legend, Muhammed Ali, Laila Ali, has lost her life while giving birth in a Canadian hospital. This is coming hours after boxing great George Foreman lost his life at 76. Laila Ali was a professional boxer who competed from 1999 to 2007. During her career, she held the WBC, WIBA, IWBF and IBA. The 47year old retired undefeated…see more below👇👇👇
CELEBRITY4 days ago

Another tragedy has struck the boxing World, as daughter of boxing legend, Muhammed Ali, Laila Ali, has lost her life while giving birth in a Canadian hospital. This is coming hours after boxing great George Foreman lost his life at 76. Laila Ali was a professional boxer who competed from 1999 to 2007. During her career, she held the WBC, WIBA, IWBF and IBA. The 47year old retired undefeated…see more below👇👇👇

David Beckham's 17-year-old daughter Harper is reportedly pregnant, but shockingly reveals the baby's real father is...
CELEBRITY5 days ago

David Beckham’s 17-year-old daughter Harper is reportedly pregnant, but shockingly reveals the baby’s real father is…

WOW😱 Travis Kelce Introduces His 3-Year-Old Daughter to the World – Shocking Fans and Swifties as He Admits He Can No Longer Hide It. He Shares Photos and Reveals the Mother’s Identity: “Please Don’t Judge Me. I’m Not Ashamed of My Daughter, and I Can Proudly Say This Is My Daughter.”
CELEBRITY5 days ago

WOW😱 Travis Kelce Introduces His 3-Year-Old Daughter to the World – Shocking Fans and Swifties as He Admits He Can No Longer Hide It. He Shares Photos and Reveals the Mother’s Identity: “Please Don’t Judge Me. I’m Not Ashamed of My Daughter, and I Can Proudly Say This Is My Daughter.”

CELEBRITY5 days ago

Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift Tie the Knot in Star-Studded Ceremony. In a moment that has fans across the globe buzzing with excitement, NFL superstar Travis Kelce and pop icon Taylor Swift have officially said “I do” in a breathtaking wedding ceremony that blended athletic grit with musical glamour.

Forever is the Deal” says Taylor Swift as she says‘Yes, I Do’ to Travis Kelce as he Proposes with a $6 Million Engagement dashing Ring 💍 at the iHeartRadio Music Awards…👇👇⬇️
CELEBRITY6 days ago

Forever is the Deal” says Taylor Swift as she says‘Yes, I Do’ to Travis Kelce as he Proposes with a $6 Million Engagement dashing Ring 💍 at the iHeartRadio Music Awards…👇👇⬇️

Breaking News: Congratulations Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts and his longtime sweetheart Bryonna Burrows tied the knot in a grand ceremony at the luxurious Ritz-Carlton in Atlanta, Georgia. Full story 👇
CELEBRITY6 days ago

Breaking News: Congratulations Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts and his longtime sweetheart Bryonna Burrows tied the knot in a grand ceremony at the luxurious Ritz-Carlton in Atlanta, Georgia. Full story 👇

Britain’s youngest mother gave birth at 13 without her family knowing, and, even more surprisingly, the baby’s father… see more
NEWS6 days ago

Britain’s youngest mother gave birth at 13 without her family knowing, and, even more surprisingly, the baby’s father… see more

Copyright © 2024 UKgets