From carrying the stars and stripes as Team USA’s flag bearer at the Paris 2024 Olympics, where she declared, “I could not be more proud to lead my teammates,” Coco Gauff’s American identity shines brightly. Her roots in Delray Beach, Florida, are deeply cherished, shown by her “Coco Delray” New Balance shoe campaign featuring her grandmother and the Pompey Park courts where her journey began. This strong hometown bond laid the foundation for her success, highlighted by her historic 2023 US Open win-the first American teen to claim the title since 1999. Her pride in representing the USA also shines in team wins like the United Cup. So, how does she feel about a fellow American switching nationalities?
To catch you up, on May 2, 17-year-old rising star Tyra Grant officially switched her tennis nationality from the U.S. to Italy. The WTA confirmed the change, which takes effect at the Italian Open. Grant, who has ties to both countries, thanked the USTA and embraced her Italian roots ahead of her debut for Italy. Earlier this week, Grant was even spotted chatting with Gauff before the tournament.
When asked about Tyra’s nationality switch, Coco wasn’t fazed. At a pre-tournament press conference, she said, “I first met her I knew she was Italian and she was very proud to be Italian and she speaks Italian. That was like a long time ago, so I’m not surprised or anything I think. I asked her about it and she said she just felt culturally she just resonated more with the Italian culture, because she lived here and she trains here.”
Born in Rome and raised in Vigevano near Milan, Tyra Grant’s Italian roots run deep. She split her time between Italy and the U.S., training at the famous Piatti Academy in Bordighera-the same place that shaped top player Jannik Sinner. “I switched to Italy because I feel mostly Italian even though I’m half and half,” Grant said.
That “made sense” to Gauff, who added, “I think it’s cool to have the option to choose who you want to represent. And yeah, if I had a cool option like Italy, I think they’re a great place to represent, I might do the same.”
241012 — WUHAN, Oct. 12, 2024 — Coco Gauff serves during the women s singles semifinal match between Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus and Coco Gauff of the United States at the 2024 Wuhan Open tennis tournament in Wuhan, central China s Hubei Province, Oct. 12, 2024. SPCHINA-WUHAN-TENNIS-WUHAN OPEN-WOMEN S SINGLES CN DuxZixuan PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxCHN
Fun fact: Daria Kasatkina also changed her nationality last month, from Russian to Australian, saying she wanted to “live openly and freely” and that “it goes well with my philosophy.”
Though Coco is proudly American with strong African-American roots, her pride shines through her activism and actions. In 2020, she spoke powerfully at a Black Lives Matter rally, connecting her activism to her grandmother’s struggles. In February 2025, she launched the Coco Gauff Scholarship Program for HBCU tennis athletes, honoring her family’s history and supporting young Black athletes.
Still, Gauff supports Grant’s choice. “I love being American too, but I think that when I talked to her she’s both. But, when I see her interacting with Italians and here, I’m like ‘okay, I see why she made the change.’”
While Coco Gauff isn’t changing her nationality, she’s made some career moves that grabbed attention. Just last month, she parted ways with her longtime agency Team8 to launch Coco Gauff Enterprises!
Coco makes a bold switch that she believes reflects her passion
On April 2, the 2023 U.S. Open singles champ and 2024 French Open doubles winner announced she’s leaving her longtime agency Team8 to launch her own management firm, Coco Gauff Enterprises. Ranked No. 3 in WTA singles and among the top earners in 2024, she said, “I’m excited to build something that allows me to take greater ownership of my career while also creating opportunities that extend beyond myself as I continue to grow as an athlete, entrepreneur, and changemaker.”
Gauff, who proudly carried the U.S. flag at the Paris 2024 Olympics alongside LeBron James, called her new venture “a venture that reflects my passion for making an impact – not just in tennis, but in business, philanthropy, and beyond.” She stressed tennis “will continue to be my main priority,” adding, “From the moment I first picked up a tennis racket, I’ve always believed my purpose extended far beyond the court.” WME Sports, which represents stars like Serena Williams and Novak Djokovic, will support her firm’s launch and operations.
At 21, Gauff’s off-court moves match her on-court success. She’s one of the highest-paid female athletes this year, earning an estimated $34.4 million-$9.4 million from prize money and the rest from endorsements with brands like New Balance, Rolex, and Head.
Now entering this year’s WTA 1000 event in Rome as the 4th seed, she has a bye into round two, where she’ll face either Italian wildcard Arianna Zucchini or a qualifier. With her strong showing in Madrid still fresh, can Coco Gauff keep up the momentum and finally claim the Italian Masters crown this time around?
The post “I Might Do the Same”- Coco Gauff Reveals Why American WTA Star’s Italian Switch Makes Perfect Sense appeared first on EssentiallySports.
