“We should focus on people who are actually struggling with being professional”: Andy Roddick defends Coco Gauff’s Oscars party appearance
WTA
Andy Roddick has defended Coco Gauff’s presence at the Vanity Fair Oscars Party in Los Angeles. The 2023 US Open champion was one of the high-profile sports representatives at the event, where she also reunited with 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams.
Criticism surfaced on social media regarding the world No. 3’s appearance at the event, particularly after her disappointing Middle East Swing, where she suffered first-round exits in both the Qatar Open and the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
The American made a quick stop in Los Angeles before heading to Indian Wells, where she will debut on Friday, March 7, after receiving a first-round bye as the third seed. Gauff will face the winner of Emma Raducanu vs. Moyuka Uchijima.
Amid the backlash, former US Open champion Andy Roddick weighed in on the topic during the latest episode of his podcast, Served with Andy Roddick. The former world No. 1 downplayed the situation, emphasizing that attending the event was not an issue for Gauff.
"When Coco, who is a business unto herself, gets a chance to knock something out for a sponsor, she rarely gets a better opportunity. She’s not going to find a better path than in LA. It's the most logical loop. You land in LA, then spend a night or two and get back on the court."
Roddick further dismissed the criticism, pointing out that Gauff remains a dedicated professional: "I think we should focus on people who are actually struggling with being professional when training.
“I'm not sure Coco is the target for that, but in reality, when you're a global superstar, stopping in LA to promote any brand or business and then heading to Indian Wells is about as tight of an operation as you're going to get."
Coco Gauff faces a challenging mission at Indian Wells, as she is defending last year’s semifinal run, where she lost to Maria Sakkari in 2024.
in custom #MiuMiu for #VanityFairOscarParty2025 💚💫 pic.twitter.com/pxf9u3rI2e
— Coco Gauff (@CocoGauff) March 3, 2025
Just In
Popular News
Latest Comments
- Until Kygrios repents of his despicable behaviour towards Sinner on social media, he will continue to rack up injuries and he will NOT win another match.Rapunzel06-03-2025
- Now Raducanu is relegated to "training sessions" with event promoters?
mandoist02-03-2025 - What a poor video from WTA Ventures.MrAndreeva28-02-2025
- There's been no medical statement. Just players who ate at the same place. There's more to diarrhea attacks than just food when you're in Mexico.mandoist27-02-2025
- Send this guy back to Shakira. Ah no. Too late. She dumped him.MrAndreeva27-02-2025
- Dealing with mental issues and various instabilities is up to the person and those surrounding them to deal with; not the public. BTW: Such fragile personalities should never be anywhere near anti-Social Media... and apparently plastic chairs.mandoist25-02-2025
- FWIW: Ending a public farewell with a line like, "Wishing you nothing but success and happiness in your future endeavors," is a corporate Tool used by those whom had/have alternative reasons they do not wish to reveal.mandoist24-02-2025
- Lena does not need a special coach. She is not the same person she once was. Look at your photos -- when is the last time you saw that smile and sparkle in her eyes? When is the last time you saw her family in attendance? I believe it was once this season; sister Ana accompanied her to Australia. Perhaps Lena needs time away from tennis; time with professional help? If nothing else, her family should hold an intervention to snap her out of the hold Vukov has on her. It's sad to watch her lose matches she should be winning. Sadder still to see her vacuous facial expressions.mandoist24-02-2025
- Thank you, Boris!! Finally someone speaking common sense!! I am so sick of the stupid, ignorant comments by the players who have not READ THE FACTS!!!Rapunzel18-02-2025
- Thank you, Boris!! Finally someone speaking common sense!! I am so sick of the stupid, ignorant comments by the players who have not READ THE FACTS!!!Rapunzel18-02-2025
