Coco Gauff gave a pretty detailed answer on why she decided to react to a person comparing her mentality to a five-year-old kid as the American tennis star highlights that she is aware that she can’t make everyone happy but also underlined that she will never be rude to someone online.
After securing her second WTA 1000 title in Beijing by dismantling Karolina Muchova 6-1 6-3, the 20-year-old had a little something for her doubters and haters who claimed that winning WTA 250 titles was her highest ceiling.
“sHe OnLy wInS 250s… Well, WHOMP WHOMP,” the world No. 4 wrote on her Instagram Story alongside a picture of her China Open trophy.
Coco Gauff Instagram Story© Coco Gauff – Instagram
For Gauff, it was her seventh WTA title and she also improved to a very impressive 7-1 record in her finals. So far in her career, she has won on every level, including the Grand Slam category after making it all the way at the 2023 US Open.
However, one person wasn’t impressed with her Instagram post – took a screenshot of it – and wrote on X: “Coco has the mentality of a 5 year old i’m sorry.”
And the 2023 US Open champion noticed it and responded to it: “Honestly kids have the best out look on life. they are so positive and creative. so I’ll take it. my goal this tournament was to play and enjoy tennis as much as I did when I was a kid because that’s when life was/is the most fun!”
honestly kids have the best out look on life. they are so positive and creative. so I’ll take it❤️ my goal this tournament was to play and enjoy tennis as much as I did when I was a kid because that’s when life was/is the most fun!
— Coco Gauff (@CocoGauff) October 6, 2024
Gauff asked why she addressed ‘a rude’ person on social media
On Tuesday, the new seven-time WTA champion resumed action by crushing Viktoriya Tomova 6-1 6-2 in the first round of the WTA 1000 tournament in Wuhan.
Following her win, one reporter asked the 20-year-old about a post that was made by “a rude person” and also asked the tennis star if she could explain why she felt the need to address it. Answering the question, Gauff appeared to suggest that she absolutely considers herself an adult and that she has responsibilities but that having a child-like mentality in certain situations can definitely benefit her and help relieve some of the pressure.
Also, she confessed that she wanted to approach Beijing as a kid because she wanted to enjoy herself on the court. And it worked since she managed to win her first title since winning Auckland in January.
“You know, you could just stay silent. There’s sometimes the ones that you respond back. For me, I’m never going to be, like, nasty to someone. You think it. But I believe that the energy you put into the world. I try to put in good energy. For me, I realize that you can never make everybody happy. There was a lot of comments on Twitter about, like, how I’ve only 250s. That’s not true. I won a slam, I won a 1000, I won a 500. I won another one a couple days ago. I posted on my story, Here’s another 250 (title),” Gauff explained.
“For me it’s just like you’ll never satisfy anybody. We ended up ending it on good terms. It wasn’t like a feud. The person thought I was immature. Honestly, I approach almost every tournament in the mindset of me as a kid. How I approached Beijing, I was like I want to approach this how I would play tennis as a kid.
“Sometimes as I’m becoming more of an adult, I think I realize or lose my inner child in a way. The world can be harsh. I guess as a child, I didn’t recognize how harsh it can be. Sometimes I try to go back into that mindset and realize at the end of the day this is my dream now, and it was my dream as a kid. If I don’t want to do it for myself now, I can definitely do for myself then.”
Coco Gauff© YouTube screenshot
Gauff clinched a statement win in her opening Wuhan match
After winning six matches in Wuhan, the world No. 4 showed no signs of tiredness in her opening match in Wuhan.
When the match started, the American did get off to a bit of a slow start after getting broken in the very first game of the match. But her response was quick and brutal as she won the next 10 games to open a 6-1 4-0 lead.
While Tomova managed to finally hold to one of her service games and end Gauff’s run of 10 consecutive games, it didn’t help much since the No. 4 seed routinely held on to her serve to complete her win with just three lost games.
Gauff faces next Marta Kostyuk.