Coco Gauff’s ‘not perfect’ response to life in public eye with 40-year French Open history on the cards

Coco Gauff will begin her defense of the French Open title on Tuesday.

Gauff came from behind to beat Aryna Sabalenka 6-7 (5-7), 6-2, 6-4 in last year’s final.

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Victory last year was Gauff’s second major win, her first since the win at the US Open in 2023 and the second time in four years that she has reached the Roland Garros final.

Gauff became a global sensation seven years ago when she defeated five-time champion Venus Williams at Wimbledon at the age of 15.

With the victory, she became the first American teenager with a Grand Slam title after Serena Williams.

She would also become a global superstar, and one of the most popular tennis players around.

At 15-years-old she learned to deal with various pressures, criticism, while also with the attention she received day by day.

However, there are negative sides of fame that sometimes bring difficult moments.

In an interview with tennisworldusa, Gauff believes that others can learn from her example on how to handle fame growing up.

“I also think it’s not a bad thing because maybe some other people can see themselves in me & realize that we’re not all perfect,” Gauff said. 

“Well, the best thing I think… I mean, sometimes you get some perps and stuff, like people recognize you and things like that.

“The worst thing I think is, you know, you make mistakes when you grow up.. So all your mistakes are kinda shown.

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” I also think it’s not a bad thing because maybe some other people can see themselves in me and realize that we’re not all perfect and we all gotta learn.”

Gauff begins French Open defense with eye on history

The world No. 4 will begin the defense of her title against fellow American Taylor Townsend on May 26.

The two have met only once previously in their careers back in 2019.

On that occasion, which was also played on clay, Townsend emerged victorious 6-0, 2-6, 6-1, albeit Gauff was just 15-years-old at the time.

If she were to defend her title, Gauff would become the first American Woman to defend the French Open since Chris Evert.

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Evert, one of the greatest tennis players of all-time, did it three times during her legendary career, twice beating Martina Navratilova (1975,1986) and in 1980, she beat Virginia Ruzici.

Gauff is set to take on Townsend in the first round on Court Philippe-Chatrier at 8:50 a.m. ET on Tuesday.

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