Coco Gauff is rewriting both the tennis and style playbooks! From her Marvel bodysuit at the Australian Open to double Miu Miu at the Oscars, her influence is undeniable. Her meteoric rise in seven years includes stunning Venus Williams at 15, winning the US Open at 19, reaching World No. 2, and winning the WTA Finals at 20. Now at just 21, her popularity fuels major endorsements like New Balance and Miu Miu, leaving you to wonder about the impact of such rapid success.
On April 23, she opened up to Vogue about how tennis, fashion, and social media are all blending in her life right now. While on the court, Gauff is fierce. Albeit she’s had a rough 2025 season so far, struggling to make it past the quarterfinals. However, off the court, her style is taking the spotlight! She’s all about mixing femininity and masculinity, and her TikTok, which has a total of 787.1K followers, “GRWM” videos have become a hit, giving fans a peek at her evolving fashion sense.
Now, she’s back with another collaboration between NB and Miu Miu with a new range of athleisure wear. With so much going on for the 21-year-old, it’s safe to say she’s perhaps feeling both wise beyond her years and refreshingly young at heart. “In growing up in this life, I can feel a lot older than I am,” Gauff admitted.
However, it seems like many forget that she is indeed just scraping into her 20s! She added, “But outside of tennis, in a lot of ways, I’m the same [as any other young person]. So if someone asks to do something as simple as a TikTok, I love to do that. It brings me back to my age. I will always say yes to that.”
On court, Gauff’s fierce competitiveness now merges with seasoned maturity, evidenced by her 9 WTA singles titles, including the 2023 US Open, and her ascent to World No. 2. Even under pressure, like her 2024 WTA Finals win as the youngest champion since 2004, she displays focus and sportsmanship.
Off court, she balances a vibrant public presence with grounded values, using her platform for social commentary while maintaining close family ties. Not to mention, her brand endorsements have indeed skyrocketed. By 2024, she became the highest-paid female athlete globally, earning an estimated $34.4 million, with a significant $25 million stemming from endorsements alone.
But it hasn’t all been smooth sailing for Gauff this year. After a strong start at the WTA Finals and United Cup, her form dipped—early exits in Doha, Dubai, Indian Wells, and Miami had many worried.
Her serve, in particular, has been under the microscope, as she leads the WTA in double faults for 2025. Still, Gauff’s resilience shines through. “Obviously, I wanted to do better, want to have better results, but it’s not something I can crush myself on,” she said after Indian Wells.
She continues to bulldoze her way through life, taking a win somewhere. You know who else did that? That’s right, her idol, Serena Williams, who continues to inspire her today.
Coco gets candid about her admiration for the 23-time Grand Slam champion
TIME magazine named 23-time Grand Slam champion to its 2025 list of the world’s 100 most influential people on April 16. After two decades of dominance, Serena told TIME, “I’ve given my whole life to tennis, and I would gladly give another two years if I had time.” Proving that she’s not just a tennis legend—she’s a powerhouse off the court too, investing in women and people of color, owning a WNBA team, and even dancing at the Super Bowl halftime show.
Coco Gauff couldn’t hide her excitement over her idol’s latest achievement. “Most influential people of all time, I mean, that’s an incredible accomplishment that she definitely deserves,” Gauff told Tennis Channel after her dominant win in Stuttgart. “She probably influenced millions, and I’m one of them. Not only in tennis but worldwide, just to be strong women and especially women of color. It’s well-deserved. I wasn’t surprised when I saw that.”
The 21-year-old was named one of TIME’s ‘Women of the Year’ in 2024 after winning her first Grand Slam at the 2023 US Open. She became the first American teen to win the title since Serena in 1999. Coco has always credited Serena for inspiring her tennis journey. “I grew up watching her. I mean that’s the reason why I play tennis,” Gauff said in 2022.
Now, as she heads into the Madrid Open to face Dayana Yastremska, all eyes are on Coco. Last year, she made it to the round of 16 against Madison Keys. Can she overcome her obstacles and go even further this time? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
The post ‘Can Feel a Lot Older Than I Am’- Coco Gauff Opens Up on Tennis Responsibilities but Reveals Her Soft Side in a Candid Revelation appeared first on EssentiallySports.
