"I honestly only knew Roger, Rafa and Novak": Coco Gauff takes different tact to rivals, prefers to watch women’s tennis
WTA
Coco Gauff
admitted that she barely watched men's tennis at the beginning of her career,
with only four players catching her attention. The 2023 US Open champion
highlighted Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic, along with tennis
legend Juan Martin del Potro from Argentina.
The world
No. 3 spoke at a press conference following an outstanding debut at the Madrid
Open, where she defeated Arantxa Rus in the first round with a score of 6-0,
6-0 in just 51 minutes. The American will step onto the court again on Saturday
to face the 31st seed, Dayana Yastremska.
“I definitely enjoy watching women’s sports in general” – Coco Gauff
A few days
ago, Aryna Sabalenka made headlines by revealing her preference for watching
men's tennis over her female competitors like Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina.
Following this revelation, Coco Gauff was asked to share her thoughts on the
matter, providing insight into her own journey as a tennis spectator.
Gauff
admitted that during her formative years, she predominantly watched women's
tennis. "I watch women’s tennis like all the time. I will say, when I was
younger it was the only tennis I watched," confessed the world No. 3.
"I honestly only knew Roger, Rafa, and Novak at that time, and I didn’t
even watch them play."
Gauff at 2024 Madrid Open
As she
became more immersed in the sport, participating in junior tournaments and
attending Grand Slam events, Gauff's interest in men's tennis began to grow.
"So then when I got more into the sport and I started playing junior
tournaments and being at the Slams with the guys then I was like, maybe I’ll
watch them. And still, I would only watch Roger, Rafa, and Novak, actually I
did watch Del Potro a little bit," she explained.
However,
Gauff emphasized that her tennis viewing habits have evolved over time. She now
finds enjoyment in watching both men's and women's tennis, as well as other
women's sports. "Now as a player on tour, I just watch tennis a lot more
in general than I did probably when I first got on the tour," she noted.
"But I definitely enjoy watching women’s sports in general, not just
tennis," she concluded.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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