"Having the top 10 agree on things is already a big step—but there’s still more to do" - Coco Gauff backs possible Grand Slam boycott as prize money debacle prolongs

The talk surrounding the tennis players is not all about the Rome Open and the upcoming Grand Slam at Roland Garros. A lot of it is based on the reoccurring complaints from players as they demand more prize money to be offered at the major events. Coco Gauff is one of these players, and she has even backed a possible boycott if things do not improve.

In terms of tennis, the 22-year-old is back in action at the Rome Open. It is a hugely pivotal clay swing for her, with a lot of points on the line. After only being able to make it to the last-16 of the Madrid Open, she has yet another WTA 1000 final to defend from last year ahead of her title defence at Roland Garros.

After illness plagued her campaign at Caja Magica, she is feeling a lot better now. "I mean, when I started my first practice, I felt 100%," she told the media. "I took three days off after my last match, and I feel fine—like nothing happened. It was definitely a weird 48 to 72 hours, but I got through some tough ones and had chances in the last match. Given I wasn’t feeling 100%, there are definitely some positives to take."

While the clay swing only spans for a couple of months, it is not the hardest to gain traction and momentum on. That would be grass in Gauff's view. "I guess for me the hardest has always been grass. I don’t think anyone can really build momentum on grass. Even if you do well the week before, you might win that tournament and then be playing the first round of a Grand Slam two days later, which is tough. So grass is the hardest.

She could not decide between clay and hardcourt. "The easiest—I don’t know," she pondered. "Clay and hard feel similar to me. Maybe clay, because it’s a shorter swing, so if you’re playing well, you’re usually playing well the whole time. Hard courts are more broken up. But definitely grass is the hardest for me."

Talk and murmurings have again emerged surrounding the players dissatisfaction about how much prize money is offered at Grand Slams. World number one Aryna Sabalenka even suggested boycotting the major events could occur in the future, something that Gauff would be tempted by.

"Honestly, I kind of agree with that idea," she commented. "Looking at what other sports like the WNBA have accomplished—it helps that they have a union—I think to make massive progress, it usually takes something like that.

"So either we need to become unionised in some way, or take collective action. Media pressure helps, but if everyone still shows up, things continue as normal. I’ve heard some players agree, but I haven’t personally been part of any serious discussions about a boycott."

As for the boycott, she would be fully involved if everyone else was participating. "If everyone moved as one and collaborated, then yes, I could see that. It’s not just about me—it’s about the future of the sport and also the current players, especially those ranked 50 to 200 who are often living paycheck to paycheck."

While there is progress on this subject, much more work is needed to be completed if they are going to reach their overall goals. "We’re making money off court, but when you look at how much the Slams make, it’s unfortunate that many top players are still struggling financially," she admitted. "But it has to be collective. I wouldn’t want to be the only one not playing. That’s why it needs real discussion among players. I do think we’ve made progress—having the top 10 agree on things is already a big step—but there’s still more to do."

The American explained how she got into this, learning about it at a young age. "Honestly, when I was younger, I remember hearing about it at one of my first US Opens, but I didn’t really understand it then," she explained.

"As you get older, you look at the facts, the numbers, and talk to other players. You also see what other sports have done and how much things have improved for their players and leagues. This isn’t just about top players earning more—it’s about improving conditions for everyone, especially lower-ranked players. I want to leave the sport better than I found it and feel proud of the role I played."

Foro Italico has a number of very appetising courts, shrouded with history. Gauff is a fan of the facilities, picking out Nicola Pietrangeli Stadium as her favourite court to play on, ruefully regretting not being able to spend more time on it.

"I don’t know how to say it exactly, but the center court—the one with the statue—is my favourite. I don’t get to play on it as much because of my ranking, but when I play doubles, I’ve been on it a few times and I really enjoy it."

She does not mind what court she plays on, whether big or small. She emphasised that it affected the men more than the women based on where they return the ball. "I don’t think it affects women as much as men. I was next to Daniil Medvedev in Madrid, and he was returning from like one inch from the fence—he might have a better answer," she said.

"For me, I don’t go that far back. But I will say the center court here is actually smaller than other center courts, which I kind of prefer. The only thing with bigger courts is the walk to the towels—it’s really far. For men, though, it probably makes more of a difference if the court is wider."

Rome is always a popular stop on the WTA Tour for many players, and that includes Gauff who is making the most of her time in the Italian capital. She especially noted the gelato and how good it was.

"I had some last night," she stated. "I like trying different flavours. I love pasta too, but after a week I get a bit tired of it—though that one week is great."

Despite being invited to the event before, Gauff has never attended the Met Gala. She was asleep while it occurred with Naomi Osaka and the Williams sisters representing tennis on the fashion stage. When she woke up, she instantly dived into all the outfits and talking points from the night.

"I saw all the looks this morning because I was asleep during it. I really liked Emma Chamberlain’s look. Obviously, Serena and Venus, and Naomi—they all looked great. For the men, I liked Wisdom Kaye—he’s a fashion influencer. And Ciara looked great too. I’m probably forgetting some, but those stood out."