Thousands of miles from home, Coco Gauff is preparing for another WTA 1000 campaign in Dubai. But even as she sharpens her game on court, her mind remains deeply connected to the United States — a country she says she loves, even when she disagrees with its direction.
The 21-year-old American has never been one to retreat when asked difficult questions. And this week, as she prepares for her opening match in Dubai, she addressed troubling developments back home with honesty, conviction, and a perspective shaped long before she became a Grand Slam champion.
A Patriot Who Refuses to Look Away
As a professional athlete, Gauff spends most of the year traveling the globe. Yet distance does not dilute her awareness.
She admitted it has been difficult to witness intensified immigration measures and the reported killings of demonstrators in Minnesota — events that have sparked national debate. Speaking to The Guardian from Dubai, Gauff made it clear that patriotism and criticism are not mutually exclusive.
“Everything that’s happening in the U.S., I’m obviously not really for it,” she said. “I don’t think people should be dying on the street just for their existence. I don’t like what’s going on.”
Her words were measured but firm. She emphasized that she is proud to be American — something she feels is sometimes misunderstood.
“For me, sometimes it’s hard to wake up and see certain things because I care so much about our country,” Gauff continued. “I think some people assume I don’t, but I’m very proud to be American.”
At the same time, she drew a clear distinction between national identity and political leadership.
“I think when you’re from any country, you don’t have to represent the entirety of what the leadership stands for. There are a lot of people who believe in what I believe in — diversity and equality. I hope we can get back to those values.”
Activism Runs in the Family
Gauff’s willingness to speak publicly is not new. It is part of her upbringing.
Her grandmother played a role in desegregating public schools in Delray Beach during the 1960s — a legacy that shaped how Gauff views responsibility and voice.
“I was never back and forth when someone asks me something relevant,” she explained. “If you ask me, I’ll tell you how I feel.”
In an era where athletes are often urged to “stick to sports,” Gauff rejects the idea that silence is safer.
“What I hate most is when people say, ‘Stay out of it,’ when we’re being asked directly,” she said. “Some players choose no comment — that’s completely their right. I respect that. But if you ask me, I’m going to answer honestly.”
For her, activism is not a performance. It is personal.
“My grandmother was literally an activist. That’s my life. So I don’t have a problem answering hard questions.”
Balancing Court and Conscience
Gauff now turns her focus to Dubai, where she enters another pivotal stretch of the season. The WTA calendar offers little pause, and the American remains one of the sport’s central figures — both competitively and culturally.
Her ability to separate performance from principle may be one of her greatest strengths. On court, she is relentless. Off it, she is reflective yet resolute.
And perhaps that is what defines this generation of champions: not just how they compete, but how they engage with the world around them.
Coco Gauff is not retreating into neutrality. She is choosing engagement — carefully, thoughtfully, and unapologetically.
In Dubai, she plays for titles.
In life, she speaks for values.
And she is comfortable doing both.
Main source: The Guardian’s Reem Abulleil with Coco Gauff: ‘I don’t think people should be dying in the streets just for existing’