Coco Gauff Details How People 'Forget She Is Human' After 'Chef' Comment
News
Coco Gauff is aware of her privileged position as a successful tennis player, but she also knows that some fans see her life unrealistically.
Gauff is not only a successful tennis player, who reached the WTA World No. 1 position in doubles and World No. 2 position in singles, and won one singles major and one doubles Grand Slam title, but she is also the highest-paid female athlete in the world.
That puts her in a really privileged position, which many watching her from home don't have. That's also one of the reasons why, so early in her tennis career, Gauff wanted to dedicate some of her time to social and charity causes.
She tries to help not only materialistically but also by spreading the word and leading by example. As a 20-year-old player whose career could be called a success story, she's certainly succeeding in doing that.
Gauff wants to be a role model for many girls who want to pick up a tennis racket, and she spoke about it during a recent appearance on the Australian Open's The Tennis podcast.
"You know obviously I know, like in tennis, a lot of people look up to me, in my generation as well. But for me it’s just doing something that I love and have an opportunity to inspire other people to do what they love. You know, I don’t take[it] for granted."
At the same time, Gauff also wants to show tennis fans what her life really is like. Many have unrealistic expectations of what it is like to be a successful athlete.
Gauff experienced that when she was once asked whether she had a private chef, which is a question that her colleague from the ATP Tour, Holger Rune, received as well.
Explaining her position, the 20-year-old American detailed that she lives a fairly normal life outside of the tennis courts, even though she was estimated to have earned more than $30 million in 2024.
"Especially, when I’m on TikTok, I think a lot of, people, sometimes forget that we’re, you know, athletes are also humans too, like, sometimes I’ll get comments like saying, 'Oh I didn’t know she did that' or, 'I didn’t know she, like, goes to the store.'"
"I remember I did a Friends-giving meal and somebody was like, 'I know, I thought you would have a chef.' I’m like 'No, I’m like, just a girl who plays tennis. And other than that, my life is pretty normal.'"
Gauff's main mission is to inspire others. She was able to partially fulfill her dreams, and she wants to show others that they can do that, too, if they work hard enough.
"It’s just, just having an opportunity to do what I love and inspire people to do what they love. But also knowing that their dreams aren’t as far away people think they are."
