MELBOURNE – Coco Gauff admits that she tends to be in a hurry throughout her life.
The 18-year-old Floridian does not stay in a city after a Tennis Tournament ends: “Even if it’s a nice place,” she said with a giggle, “I like going away.” When dinner is over, she’s not the one to linger in a restaurant: “I don’t like to sit around and talk after dinner,” she said, eliciting even more laughter. “I want to go.”
Yes, in general Gauff is ready to continue. Their philosophy in a nutshell: Why wait?
“I’m pretty impatient to be honest. I wouldn’t say I’m impatient with people and things, but when it comes to getting things done, I’d rather do it sooner than later,” Gauff said in an interview with The Associated Press. “I think it has to do with my career; I never realized it until this conversation. But you want success to come now.”
When the Australian Open The 2023 Grand Slam season begins Monday morning (Sunday night EST), Gauff is scheduled to face Katerina Siniakova at Rod Laver Arena. Win that and Gauff could next face Emma Raducanu, who won the 2021 US Open as a teenager.
Continue through to the semi-finals and No. 7 seed Gauff may meet No. 1 Iga Swiatek, who won the 2020 French Open as a teenager and has since claimed two other major titles. That would be a rematch of their French Open final last June, which Swiatek won.
Gauff isn’t the only young player making progress at the highest level of her sport.
However, she is someone who grew up under an intense spotlight and had to adjust to it after making her Grand Slam debut in 2019 by becoming the youngest qualifier in Wimbledon history and then attracting even more attention , defeating Venus Williams en route to make it to the fourth round at the All England Club.
“I’ve definitely grown a lot since then. I was 15 and brand new. I had a lot of confidence. Still have a lot of self-confidence. But I feel like I’m more grounded,” Gauff said. “It all happened so fast, so my head got – I wouldn’t say ‘big’ because I’ve always been humble and stuff – but I think in hindsight it all goes fast.”
Her biggest growth from then to now, according to her father Corey, is “her spiritual maturity.”
Swiatek’s take on Gauff?
“I feel like she’s really humble outside of court. I’m happy about that because I know all eyes were on her from a young age,” said Swiatek. “I’m glad she’s handling it well.”
Gauff certainly has, both by improving as a player and by finding her voice and speaking out on issues, whether it be gun violence in the United States or the Supreme Court’s Roe v. To topple Wade or whatever else is important to her.
“She is wise beyond her years. Obviously her parents should be very proud of this young lady they raised and deserve a lot of credit for laying that foundation for her. But of course Coco is Coco and she is herself,” said Steve Simon, CEO and Chairman of the WTA. “What excites me is that the process she went through to get there means to me that she has a good chance of holding that level over the long term, as opposed to those who suddenly go gold.”
On the court, Gauff knows there is still work to be done – her forehand is still a shot opponents love to test – to continue finding success and making progress in the right direction.
She has already cracked the top 10 in singles and worked her way up to first place in doubles and qualified for both events at the WTA Finals at the end of the 2022 season.
She reached her first Grand Slam final in Paris. She won her third career singles trophy last week in Auckland, New Zealand.
And now?
“The biggest goal every year,” Gauff said with another laugh, “is to win a Grand Slam.”
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