Coco Gauff is the biggest American name at this year’s US Open with a lot of expectations and with that, the spotlight on her. Unfortunately, her comment about her ‘new motto’ has ended up getting a lot of attention – but not quite the kind she would have hoped for.
In a press conference, Gauff revealed that although being the defending champion was a pressure to deal with, it was also a ‘privilege’. This was eerily similar to the quote that made Billie Jean King iconic and is immortalized on the walls of the Arthur Ashe Stadium, ‘Pressure is a privilege’. Gauff was quoted as saying:
“Obviously, coming in as a defending champion is a little bit of pressure but also more of a privilege. If you defend, that means you won something before.”
That last part didn’t sit well with many tennis lovers on social media as they believe that this is not something new to know. They also added that she just laid out the definition of being a defending champion, so that can’t really be her motto. At the same time, some fans don’t believe that Gauff will defend her title this year.
Some of the reactions were:
Coco Gauff has been trolled for her pre-tournament US Open comments! pic.twitter.com/8VirFPeTew
— Wide World of Tennis (@tennisfan_dkr) August 26, 2024
Gauff has had it from many fans for her statement on her new motto based on the fact that she is the defending champion at the US Open this year. pic.twitter.com/9z4Zsc2kQK
— Wide World of Tennis (@tennisfan_dkr) August 26, 2024
Others also commented the following on an Instagram post:
“I feel like she’s going out early rounds – if you are saying that I feel you’re trying to rationalize yourself into believing you’re gonna win. Hope she proves me wrong.”
“That’s not a motto.”
Gauff was also asked how she keeps herself motivated when things don’t go her way and she receives hate for the same. In reply, she shared the story about how she came up with her motto after reading a comment on her social media and decided to stick to it. On that, Gauff commented:
“A couple of days ago somebody commented on my TikTok and in the comment, it said, you have won literally and figuratively. Why stress yourself out for a victory lap? And I was like that’s actually a good perspective.
“And then I am just wanting to add to that whether it happens here in two weeks or next year here or at Australia or whatever… I was like okay, I am going to stick by that.”
The 20-year-old, who is also the No.3 seed at the tournament, will be beginning her 2024 US Open campaign on Monday, August 26. Her first-round clash will be against the French tennis player Varvara Gracheva, whom she had defeated in the quarterfinals of the ASB Classic this year.
