Coco Gauff has won the 2024 ESPYS award for best tennis player, but fans are upset with the result.
It is known that Americans have narrow-minded views about sports and culture. If it took place outside of the continental United States, it never happened. This is particularly valid regarding the ESPYS, ESPN’s annual awards presentation, where the best tennis player award went to Gauff, the 2023 US Open winner.
Tennis enthusiasts were supposed to have an amazing time at the ESPYS event, and veteran athlete Serena Williams emceed the programme.
But the announcement of the “Best Tennis Player” ESPYS award had left a lot of fans apparently disappointed.
Coco Gauff not ‘the best’
Gauff has had a rollercoaster of a season after winning the 2023 US Open. Before falling in the quarter-finals at Wimbledon, she was eliminated in the Australian and French Open semi-finals.
The world No. 2 hasn’t had a particularly terrible year by any means, but it’s simply not the greatest– the main reason why tennis enthusiasts questioned the award’s legitimacy.
According to the fans, Gauff hasn’t been particularly impressive this year, and she’s not necessarily the best tennis player. However, inexperienced American sports fans deemed that winning the US Open is the same as winning the world title.
Gauff will compete for Team USA at Roland Garros in the upcoming 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France. After that, she wants to defend her title at the US Open.
After a tense battle with Belarusian player Aryana Sabalenka, Coco Gauff emerged as the victor in the US Open last Sunday and claimed her maiden Grand Slam title. She won the match with an impressive 6-2 6-3 6-2 victory, sending the fans into a frenzy of cheers and applause.
She also made history that day as she became the third American youngster, behind Serena Williams and Tracy Austin, to win her first Grand Slam championship. Austin won the title in 1979 and 1981, while Serena Williams, then 17 years old, won it in 1999.
Gauff has been on a tear ever since she lost in the first round at Wimbledon. But after that loss, she’s been on an 18-win streak, claiming the biggest WTA 500 title of her career in Washington and then taking it to the next level with a WTA 1000 win in Cincinnati.
And now, she’s done it again, winning her first ever Grand Slam title.
With this result, she climbed from fifth-ranked to third-ranked in the official WTA rankings, surpassing her prior career-best ranking of fourth, achieved at the end of last year.
After winning the match, Coco Gauff stated that she was thrilled to follow the footsteps of Serena and Venus Williams and that they were the reason why she had the trophy that day.
“I’m so honoured to be able to follow in my sisters’ footsteps and to be able to win my first Grand Slam title,” Gauff said.”It’s been an incredible journey and I’m so proud to be a part of it.
“Crazy. They’re the reason why I have this trophy today,” she said. “Honestly, they’ve allowed me to believe in this dream. Growing up, there weren’t too many just black tennis players dominating the sport. It was literally at that time when I was younger, it was just them that I can remember.
Gauff: It was crazy
Gauff says their legacy has had an immense impact, making her dreams feel attainable. Reflecting on the struggles endured by trailblazers like Serena, Venus, Althea Gibson, Sloane Stephens, and Naomi Osaka, “I’m reminded of the hurdles they overcame, especially in the fight for equal pay at events like Indian Wells.”
Being part of such an esteemed lineup, which includes legendary figures like Althea Gibson and modern champions like Serena, Venus, Naomi, and Sloane, is a true honor, she added.
“They paved the way for my journey here. I distinctly recall watching Sloane win this trophy in 2017, a moment that inspired me deeply, having known her since I was 10 years old.”
Although Coco Gauff was eliminated at the WTA finals, the 19-year old still
continues to have aspirations of winning the season-ending tournament one day.
Gauff’s journey prior to the WTA finals
Last year, Gauff had a rough stint at the WTA finals, as she failed to win a single set and finished with a losing record of 0-3.
This year, though, proved to be different.
Gauff had an incredible start to her season before the WTA finals, winning the ASB Classic in Auckland in January; the Citi Open and the Cincinnati Masters both in August ; and, of course, her first-career grand slam, the US Open.
As a result, she quickly established herself as the top-ranked American in the WTA rankings, peaking at third place, behind only the number-one-ranked Iga Swiatek and the number-two-ranked Aryna Sabalenka.
Coco Gauff had the breakthrough of her life on the North American Hardcourts this summer.
• 51-15 Record • US Open Champion (1st GS Title) • Cincy Champion (1st WTA 1000 Title) • Titles in Washington and Auckland • 24-4 Record Post-Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/kLfEsYimJU
For Gauff, who was only 19, winning these titles and ranking that high in the budding stage of her career was impressive.
And, as the teenager headed into the season-ending competition in Cancun, she was one of the favorites to win the championship.
Gauff’s semi-final exit at WTA finals
Last week, Coco Gauff began her WTA Finals campaign with a dominant performance, trouncing her Tunisian opponent, sixth-seeded Ons Jabeur, in a 6-0, 6-1match that lasted just 57 minutes.
“I’m just happy,” Gauff said, “to finally get a win here in this event.”
And with another 5-7, 7-6(4),6-3 win against Márketa Vondroušová, Gauff was able to qualify for the semi-finals.
Because of this, Gauff now holds the distinction of being the youngest player to win a WTA final match and advance to the semi-finals since Caroline Wozniacki 14 years ago. Another record that shows how good a player Gauff is.
Her WTA finals run, however, was ended by fellow American and doubles partner Jessica Pegula in the semi-finals 6-2, 6-1.
Gauff: It’s definitely a dream
Despite failing to win the WTA finals for the second time, Gauff still hasn’t given up on her dreams of one day winning the tournament.
Despite her preference for winning grand slam competitions, Gauff stated in an interview that she still dreams of conquering the “very challenging” WTA finals.
Via The Tennis Letter: “It would be cool to win it. To be honest, as a kid, I always dreamt of winning Grand Slams. I think as I’ve grown as a pro on tour, I learned more about what the WTA Finals is about. I’d definitely say that would be a goal of mine now, after competing in it for 2 years and realizing this is the best of the best,” said Gauff.
“I do think I can improve. It would definitely be a dream. If I had to choose, I’d rather win another Slam. But it’s definitely a dream. I think this tournament is one of the most challenging. Not only because it’s the Top 8, but because it’s the end of the season,” she added.
Coco Gauff says it would be a dream to win the WTA Finals in the future:
“It would be cool to win it. To be honest, as a kid, I always dreamt of winning Grand Slams. I think as I’ve grown as a pro on tour, I learned more about what the WTA Finals is about. I’d definitely say… pic.twitter.com/jcSeVPaKi8
As the women’s tennis season came to a close, Gauff posted a short message in her X and Instagram account, saying that she saw both her darkest and brightest moments this year and that she’s proud of what she’s achieved so far.
Via Gauff’s Instagram: “2023 season is officially over. hard to sum of this season in a few words. I saw my darkest and brightest days of my life this year. I probably grew enough for 10 lifetimes between January & now lol. I usually don’t say this but I am learning to be nicer to myself haha (I get questioned all the time by family, press, and y’all for not saying this) but yes I AM proud of myself. I am proud of the resilience showed. They really tried to count me out but it is all in God’s plan and His timing.❤️”
2023 is season officially over. hard to sum of this season in a few words. I saw my darkest and brightest days of my life this year. I am proud of myself. God’s plan❤️ pic.twitter.com/tpOlOC4Vgh
After winning the WTA Finals, tennis player Coco Gauff was taken aback by her mind-blowing prize.
The 20-year-old athlete defeated Zheng Qinwen in a thrilling match in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Gauff came back to win the second set 6-4 after trailing by a set, but the three-hour match was finally settled by a tie-break. Gauff won 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(2). Moreover, Gauff also overcame Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek, the top-ranked player and the second-ranked player in the world.
An amount of $4.8 million (£3.7 million) was awarded to Guaff, and it is said to be the biggest prize money in women’s tennis history.
About the prize money, Gauff said: “I didn’t know, like I knew it was some money, but I didn’t know that much… Oh it means a lot to me… I have bought a house… I’m going to a music festival next week. So, I don’t know, I’m not someone who likes to spend a lot of money to be honest. I don’t know what I’ll do with it. That’s a lot of money…”
She added: “Oh gosh, I hope I’m like one of the highest-paid female tennis players this year, so that’ll be exciting. Honestly, I wanted to win this for myself I didn’t know that it was the biggest prize check on this tour, I didn’t know anything about that. I knew there was money, but I try not to never play for this, but that’s cool.”
Furthermore, the competition splits the best eight female players into two groups of four, with the top two of each group qualifying for the semi-finals. Gauff, a former US champion, has experienced a difficult schedule at the WTA Finals, where she became the youngest US winner since Serena Williams in 2001.
Undoubtedly, this season has been eventful for Gauff. She won the French Open doubles in June and was a winner at the China Open last month. Moreover, she was part of Team USA at the Olympics and achieved two Grand Slam singles semi-finals at the Australian and French Opens.
Reigning US Open champion Coco Gauff will lead the American tennis team at the Paris Olympics, which will be played at Roland Garros, the home of the French Open.
Gauff, 20, the world number 2, was due to represent Team USA in Tokyo in 2021 but tested positive for Covid-19 shortly before the Games and withdrew from competition.
This time, Gauff will be one of the favourites, playing on the same clay courts where she reached the French Open finals in 2022 and was a semi-finalist this year. She also won the French Open doubles title this year with Katerina Siniakova of Czechoslovakia.
Gauff will be joined by the fifth-ranked Jessica Pegula, world number 11 Danielle Collins and number 17 Emma Navarro in the singles draw at the Paris Games.
The men’s team will include the world number 12 Taylor Fritz and number 13 Tommy Paul — the highest-ranked Americans — as well as number 44 Chris Eubanks and number 53 Marcos Giron.
Paul and Giron competed at the Tokyo Games, where the Americans failed to win a tennis medal for the first time since the sport became part of the Olympics again in 1988.
Team USA will be able to enter two teams in both the men’s and women’s doubles draw, along with one mixed doubles team that is yet to be chosen.
Likely doubles partners
Gauff and Pegula, who lost the French Open doubles final in 2022, are expected to team up.
Pegula returned to action last week, recovering from a neck injury in April that forced her to miss the French Open. She was a singles quarterfinalist there in 2022.
Collins, the 2022 Australian Open runner-up, said this would be her final season on the tour, She won two titles this year in Miami and Charleston. She reached the French Open quarter-finals in 2020 but lost in the second-round this year.
Doubles player Desirae Krawczyk will team up Collins at the Paris Games. Collins and Krawczyk, both 30, won a doubles title last year in Charleston. Krawczyk is a four-time Grand Slam champion in mixed doubles.
Team USA is also taking Rajeev Ram, 40, to his third Olympics. He will be paired with Austin Krajicek in Paris while Fritz will team up with Paul.
With an amazing 51-15 record, titles in Washington, Auckland, and Cincinnati, and, of course, her heart-stopping performance at the US Open—her first-ever grand slam victory—Coco Gauff is, hands down, one of the athletes who’s had an outstanding year.
And, owing to her latest feats, the world saw her rise to the No. 3 spot in the WTA rankings, behind only World No. 1 Polish player Iga Swiatek and World No. 2 Belarusian player Aryna Sabalenka.
And naturally, as the spotlight turned to her, the 19-year-old has garnered praise from all over the globe for her athleticism on court, even eliciting nods from tennis icons Billie Jean King, Maria Sharapova, Roger Federer, and, of course, her idol, Serena Williams.
Johnson on Gauff
Billie Jean King: “That Coco won was just amazing. When I see her, she’s the reason we fought so hard 50 years ago. She is truly fantastic for our sport, and I think she is a huge force..She’s really exciting to watch, and she’s a great athlete.”
Maria Sharapova: “I have been saying for years that I think she has the ability to transcend the sport into so many [areas], bridging entertainment, sport and culture, and fashion.”
Roger Federer: Been watching your 🎾 and following you for years. It’s great to see so much hard work and passion being rewarded.
You shine brighter than ever🌟
Inspirational win @CocoGauff 🎉, Been watching your 🎾 and following you for years. It’s great to see so much hard work and passion being rewarded. You shine brighter than ever🌟#TEAM8pic.twitter.com/BmtEnOz9O0
Serena Williams took to her Instagram to congratulate Gauff for her first grand slam win at the US Open, writing, ““Ahhhhhhhhhhh!!!! Amazing!!!!!!!! @cocogauff,”
Michael Johnson adds to the list
But beyond the tennis realm, Gauff’s magnificent play on court has also been lauded by many prominent figures, the latest of which is Michael Johnson, who’s a four-time gold Olympic medalist and eight-time World Champion American sprinter.
On X, Johnson shared a video of Coco Gauff’s latest performance at the WTA finals. The camera was solely focused on the young tennis star as she sparred intensely with Czech tennis player Markéta Vondroušová in Cancun.
Impressed, Johnson captioned it with “The athleticism here is ridiculous. And this doesn’t even show the skill!
The athleticism here is ridiculous. And this doesn’t even show the skill! https://t.co/ZHpXo1D3C9
Numerous fans also agreed with Johnson in the comments section, stating the Gauff was indeed the real deal.
One fan stated, “This video shows the effort it takes to play top level tennis. Also, the skill at being able to hit with such force and keep the ball in play. Coco is the real deal.”
Another fan also noted her remarkable progress over the years, “It’s so awesome to have watched her develop over the years. She keeps getting better. Serena vibes!”
