By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Wednesday April 24, 2024
Coco Gauff graces the cover of Time Magazine’s May 13 edition, and to honor the occasion, the 2024 Women of the Year nominee was profiled by journalist Sean Gregory.
“I was trying to live up to what other people wanted for me.”
Tennis champion Coco Gauff is playing for herself now https://t.co/XcsZ8WLWE1 pic.twitter.com/r6fbYnphCk
— TIME (@TIME) April 24, 2024
“I always knew I wanted to try to win multiple Grand Slams,” 2023 US Open champion Gauff tells Time. “Sometimes people get unmotivated after winning one. That hasn’t been a personal challenge for me.”
In the lengthy profile, Gauff opens up about a racist incident that happened to her in Europe when she was 12, and shares views on current hot-button political issues, as well as her hopes for the 2024 season.
She’s never been shy about voicing her opinions and using her platform for good. As Gauff ages, picks up wisdom – and major titles – the voice resonates further.
Coco Gauff graces the cover of TIME Magazine.
Superstar. ⭐️🥹 pic.twitter.com/Fwc5m5x3GJ
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) April 24, 2024
“At first I was scared to grow up,” the recently turned 20-year-old tells Time. “But now I’m embracing adulthood and womanhood.”
The current World No.3 says she’s eager to take a crack at the Olympics in Paris this summer, in addition to attempting to defend her US Open title in September.
“I get goosebumps representing my country. I want to win a gold so bad,” she says, before looking further forward to her title defense at this year’s US Open, and reiterating her self-stated goal to stay calm and roll with the punches.
“My goal is to be relaxed and have fun and play with less pressure,” Gauff tells Time. “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.”
Photo Source: Daphne Nguyen for TIME
