In a vulnerable BBC Sports column, she reflected on the life-changing perspective shift that has helped her manage these tough feelings. “I do think you can accomplish great things at any age—but for your own mental well-being, you have to remind yourself you will fail and make some silly mistakes,” Gauff wrote. “Now I’m trying to tell myself to enjoy my wins a little bit more.” (Honestly, that’s a mindset we should all be adopting.)
4. She’s passionate about making a difference on and off the court.
Just weeks after the murder of George Floyd in June 2020, Gauff delivered an impassioned speech in her hometown of Delray Beach, Florida. “I’ve been spending all week having tough conversations, trying to educate my non-Black friends on how they can help the movement,” a 16-year-old Gauff said at the time.
More recently, the tennis pro proudly voiced her opposition to her home state’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill , which restricts classroom discussions about sexual orientation or gender identity for many young students. “I’m against it,” Gauff told reporters at the time. “These conversations are important, and for me, who has friends in the LGBTQ+ community, I couldn’t imagine not being able to talk about your identity.”
5. She’s making tennis refreshingly fun again.
Aside from being, ya know, a major tennis star, Gauff is just like us—well, kind of. She, too, fangirls over pop singers (Justin Bieber to be specific), for example, and bought her very first Labubu. Not to mention, Gauff brings the kind of refreshing, youthful energy we’ve needed into tennis fashion, moving past the usual bland skirts with bold colors and inventive cuts (as seen in her recent Miu Miu and New Balance collab).
HENRY NICHOLLS/Getty Images
Despite her professionalism on the court, she also knows how to let loose on the sidelines, too, as evidenced by the fact that she (hilariously) roasted her fellow teammates’ outfits in good fun. You can see more of her lighthearted side on her TikTok account, where she’s lip-synced away her differences with rival Aryna Sabalenka, for instance, and rooted for her favorite couple on Love Island (Nicolandria, obviously) like the rest of us.
Especially in a predominantly white sport, it’s especially inspiring to see such a confident, expressive, fun-loving young woman like Gauff get her flowers from both fans and the tennis establishment.
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