Gauff Reflects on U.S. Social Issues Amid Dubai Tournament
While receiving treatment and preparing for the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, Coco Gauff has been keeping up with the news from the United States almost daily. Despite spending nearly 11 months a year traveling, often thousands of miles from her home in Delray Beach, Florida, the world No. 5 tennis player makes an effort to stay informed about current events back home.
The 21-year-old expressed that it has been difficult to wake up to reports of severe immigration crackdowns and recent killings by federal agents in Minnesota, including those of Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good.
"Everything going on in the US, obviously I’m not really for it. I don’t think people should be dying in the streets just for existing. I don’t like what’s going on,"
Gauff stated in Dubai on Sunday, referring to the incidents in Minnesota.
"I think for me, it is tough to sometimes wake up and see something because I do care a lot about our country. I think people think I don’t for some reason, but I do. I’m very proud to be American.
"But I think when you’re from any country, you don’t have to represent the entire values of what’s going on in the leadership. I think there’s a lot of people around there who believe in the things I believe in, and believe in diversity and equality. So, I’m hoping as the future progresses that we can get back to those values."
Activism and Family Influence
Activism is deeply rooted in Gauff’s family history. Her maternal grandmother, Yvonne Lee Odom, was an activist in Delray Beach during the 1960s and has imparted her experiences and values to Gauff from an early age.
Gauff has long rejected the "shut up and dribble" mentality often directed at athletes who speak out on social and political issues. At 16, she participated in a Black Lives Matter rally in her hometown, where she delivered a speech encouraging people to take action, exercise their right to vote, and advocate for social justice.
"The silence of the good people is worse than the brutality of the bad people,"
she said at the rally, quoting Martin Luther King Jr., while her grandmother observed.
Additionally, Gauff has publicly condemned the killing of innocent civilians in Gaza. In an interview with The National News two years ago, she emphasized the importance of privileged civilians educating themselves and continuing to demand change from leaders.
"It’s important for us as privileged civilians to do our research and just continuing to demand our leaders to make change and I will never not advocate for that."
Speaking Out on Social and Political Matters
The two-time Grand Slam champion is frequently asked to comment on social and political topics and maintains that she will always respond candidly.
"I never felt torn when I’m asked a question because it is relevant. If you’re asking me, I’ll going to tell you how I feel,"
she said on Sunday.
Gauff acknowledged that many people on social media urge athletes to avoid politics and current events, but she believes that when asked, athletes should have the opportunity to express their views.
"I think a lot of people on social media, on the other hand, like to say to stay out of politics, stay out of the things that are going on.
"You’re going to be asked these things in press. People want to hear our opinion on it. Some players choose to say ‘no comment’, which is also completely in their right. I understand that. Some prefer to state their opinion.
"I think the biggest thing I hate is when people say, ‘stay out of it’, when we’re being asked it. If you ask me, I’m going to give you my honest answer.
"When I’m asked, I have no problems. Because I’ve lived this. My grandma literally is an activist. This is literally my life. So I’m OK answering tough questions."
Upcoming Matches
Gauff, ranked world No. 5, is set to begin her campaign at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships against either Jelena Ostapenko or Anna Kalinskaya on Tuesday.
