Coco Gauff is perhaps one of the most prolific athletes on the tennis court today. The Grand Slam champion has unquestionably proven that she is truly a force to be reckoned with as an opponent. For many athletes, the drive, determination, and chase that it takes to capture that coveted win becomes somewhat of a “drug”. In a recent interview, Gauff states that that “drug” is what motivates her to keep going so that she can feel that championship high once again.
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“It was like a drug,” Gauff told Time Magazine of her journey towards winning the Grand Slam championship over Aryna Sabalenka at the U.S. Open final. “I’ve never felt anything like that.”
“That’s the motivation that drives me,” she continued. “I’m sure the ‘Face of Tennis’ and glitz and glam will come along with that. But I don’t really care about any of that. I really just care about how many of those major trophies I can get in my house.”
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Although Gaff lost in the semis of the Australian Open back in January of this year, the phenom is still on top as she currently holds the title of the world’s highest-paid female athlete. According to Sportico’s annual list of top earners, as a result of prize money and endorsements, Gauff earned an estimated $22.7 million in 2023. Gauff told Time that this honor, for her, is a source of pride.
“Being a Black woman, in a sport that isn’t as diverse as others are, it definitely means a lot to me,” she said.
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In March, Gauff will no longer be a teenager as she will turn 20-years-old. Yet, although she admits that she “was scared to grow up,” she is now “embracing adulthood.”
“It’s crazy to think that I’m not going to be a teenager anymore. So much of my career, people have called me the teenaged this, teenaged that. At first, I was scared to grow up. But now I’m embracing adulthood.”
We have no doubt that this new era of Gaff’s life will only be better than before. And of course, we cannot wait to enjoy the journey!
