Coco Gauff and her fans are a perfect match, like a powerful serve and a clean winner. Since rising to No. 4 and winning the 2023 US Open, her global fanbase has blossomed. This devotion shines through at tournaments-from thoughtful gifts in Beijing to a heartfelt letter at an In-N-Out drive-thru, and even signing a fan’s laptop. These moments spark a question: How far would the fans go to show their devotion to the star?
Remember the 2024 Madrid Open? A fan asked Coco to sign her arm, leaving her in disbelief and awe. She posted the moment on Instagram, writing, “I normally don’t record videos like this, but I had the craziest fan. She is the sweetest soul.” The fan wanted not just a signature but a tattoo to keep forever. Now that’s a real souvenir from a match! But did the fan follow through?
She did! At this year’s Madrid Open, Coco met the same fan again. The World No. 4, seeded fourth, was astonished and grateful as she signed merch for fans. “They waited an hour and a half after my match for me to come out… I love Madrid,” she said. When she signed the fan’s New Balance shoes, the fan revealed the tattoo. Coco posted the picture on her IG story, writing, “She tatted me and my signature omg.” Talk about dedication!
The moment didn’t end there. Katherine, the fan, later posted Coco taking a photo of the tattoo. She wrote, “@cocogauff Got shoes signed and a hug, I can die happy now.” Coco reshared the post, embracing the beautiful interaction with joy and gratitude. It must have been refreshing for the American after just stepping out of a tough match.
Gauff’s opening match at this year’s Madrid Open was a true test of her grit. Facing Dayana Yastremska, she stumbled badly in the first set, dropping it 0-6 as her serve completely fell apart-just 29 percent first serves in, 25 percent on second, and only five points won on serve. But Gauff didn’t let that shake her.
She fought back hard, taking the second set 6-2. The final set was a rollercoaster of breaks and tension, with Coco frequently looking to her player’s box for support. Even without much vocal encouragement, she powered through to a tough 0-6, 6-2, 6-3 victory.
On the other hand, while adored by her Madrid fanbase, Coco remains grounded. The young starlet admitted to finding it surreal to consider herself a celebrity away from the tennis arena.
Coco expresses her thoughts on getting recognized off the court
At the Stuttgart Open, Coco Gauff opened up to Tennis Channel about how often she gets recognized in public. Being the youngest American WTA player to win the 2023 US Open since Serena Williams and now ranked World No. 2 as of June 2024, it’s no surprise people notice her. Yet, she’s still adjusting. “Sometimes pretty quickly,” she said. “And sometimes you have someone look at you and then by the time you walk you can hear them be like, ‘oh my, god, is that Coco?’ And so most of the time I just keep walking because I don’t want to…I don’t know it’s kind of awkward. Like, ‘yeah, it is me’ or something.”
Coco’s journey kicked off at 15 with that unforgettable Wimbledon debut in 2019, where she stunned Venus Williams and instantly grabbed the spotlight. Before that, she was the youngest to reach the U.S. Open junior girls’ final in 2017 and clinched the French Open junior title in 2018.
Her momentum didn’t stop there. She soared to a career-high world No. 2 singles ranking in June 2024 and snagged the world No. 1 doubles spot in August 2022. Her trophy shelf gleams with nine WTA singles titles, including the 2023 US Open and 2024 WTA Finals, plus nine doubles titles, highlighted by the 2024 French Open.
Away from the court, Coco keeps it real. “I mean, it’s cool to connect with different people and it’s always crazy for me. I get recognized and especially in places not in the US I don’t know…in the US I expect it but I went to the mall today and I got recognized so I wasn’t expecting that.” The surprise of recognition still hits her. But when she’s playing, she thrives on the fans’ energy.
Now, as she gears up for her next match at the Madrid Open, Coco is set to face fellow American Ann Li in the second round on clay. With her fans rallying behind her, will she turn their support into a win? Drop your thoughts in the comments!
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