Coco Gauff says she is ‘super grateful’ for been chosen as one of TIME’s women of the year. At only 19 years old, she is the youngest on the list as well as the only athlete.
World number three Gauff has been a regular on the WTA tour for five years now, despite her young age. She was just 15 years old when she won both her first doubles title in Washington and her first singles title in Linz.
Winning a total of 8 doubles titles and 7 singles titles so far, including the 2023 US Open, Gauff has often used her high profile to advocate on non-tennis issues.
Utilizing her social media channels and even speaking at protests, Gauff has campaigned on issues relating to social injustice and equality. Most notably she addressed a crowd in Delray Beach following the George Floyd tragedy in 2020.
Speaking to reporters at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, Gauff said:
“I knew about it last year. I wasn’t sure when they would announce it. It’s really cool to be on that list among other amazing women. Especially making it so young. I’m super grateful they chose me to do that.”
Gauff is joined on the list by Academy Award-nominated Barbie director Greta Gerwig, Grammy-nominated vocalist Andra Day, and climate activist Jacqui Patterson.
Asked if she plans to continue advocating for equality, Gauff said it was something that came naturally.
"Especially in this day and age, I will say growing up in tennis, coming from the lineage of Billie Jean King, Venus Williams, Althea Gibson, I feel like this sport is very popular in advocating for equality and justice," Gauff said.
"Growing up with my family, my family history, I feel like that's just something I knew, whether I was going to be a tennis player or not, even if I was a kid in a regular high school, I would probably be part of some club or something to that degree. I just feel like that's something I've been passionate about since I was little."
The 19-year-old has had a successful start to 2024, winning the Auckland title and reaching the semi-finals of the Australian Open. She will attend a celebratory gala in Los Angeles next month before competing at the BNP Paribas Open.
And while tennis is the main focus, Gauff says she plans to continue using her profile for the right causes.
"Obviously tennis is the main priority," Gauff said. "Once I step off the court, I'm a person. I'm not hitting strokes while I'm eating food and everything. I'm actually thinking.
"I'm a person. I have opinions. I have thoughts. I feel like I have a responsibility with the platform tennis has given me to not use it in vain."
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