“Now I’m embracing adulthood and womanhood” – Gauff

The American says she is not worried about the pressure that will come with being the defending US Open champion later in the year

Coco Gauff at the WTA Grand Prix in Stuttgart 2024 Image Credit: Zuma / Panoramic

Haresh Ramchandani

April 25, 2024

American Coco Gauff is on the cover of the latest issue of TIME magazine in which she talks about coming back from a dark place to being more relaxed as she gears up towards defending her first Grand Slam title at the US Open later this year.

Gauff, who turned 20 earlier this year, has become one of the top stars in the women’s game. But she admitted that the pressure of playing for others took a toll on her last year.

“I was in a really dark place. I put my identity too much into tennis. It was taxing to feel awful all the time,” Gauff said about her time after losing in the first round of Wimbledon last year. “It is much easier to play for yourself than it is for other people,” says Gauff. “I realized it’s impossible to satisfy everyone.”

While many other players may have lost their mojo after winning their first Grand Slam title, Gauff remains hungry as ever to win more.

“I always knew I wanted to try to win multiple Grand Slams. Sometimes people get unmotivated after winning one. That hasn’t been a personal challenge for me. My goal is to be relaxed and have fun and play with less pressure. I know people are going to start talking about defending the U.S. Open title later on in the year. I’m not worried about that.”

To just have someone to talk to who is not involved in tennis at all gives me a fresh perspective.

Now out of her teens, Gauff says she is ready for adulthood and the challenges that come with that.

“At first I was scared to grow up,” the world No 3 said. “But now I’m embracing adulthood and womanhood. I don’t have a timeline on (buying my own place). I always say it’ll happen in my 20s at some point.”

In the interview, the American also admitted that she has been in a relationship for a year now but preferred to keep her boyfriend’s identity under the wraps. “This is my first real relationship. To just have someone to talk to who is not involved in tennis at all gives me a fresh perspective.”