- 1 hour ago
At just 15, Coco Gauff rocked the tennis world when she knocked Venus Williams out of Wimbledon in 2019. Six years later, she has two Grand Slam singles titles to her name, including the French Open, which she captured in June. She already ranks 11th on the WTA Tour’s career prize money list with nearly $30 million, but “I feel so far away from my potential,” she says. “I’m just eager to improve.” Gauff is also the world’s highest-paid female athlete thanks to the estimated $25 million she earns off the court annually. In addition to endorsements with brands including New Balance, Rolex and Bose, she has invested in the women’s basketball league Unrivaled and partnered with studio Religion of Sports to produce TV, film and digital projects.
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SportsTranscript
00:00Never let anyone tell you that you should just do your sport because no one just does their job.
00:05Make sure you explore all parts of you and you feel like that part fits you, then do it.
00:17Coco Golf, thanks for being here with us today.
00:19Thanks for having me.
00:21So it's been a big year for you.
00:22Second Grand Slam title at the French Open in June.
00:25When you think about that, how do you reflect on that moment?
00:28Yeah, winning that title was super important for me.
00:31I lost in the finals previously, so I didn't want that to be the last or the outstanding moment for me of that tournament in my career.
00:38So to do that was super cool for me.
00:41And yeah, I had like a lot of momentum going into that.
00:44So I was happy to win that title.
00:47So obviously, I think you've had so much success early on that we take for granted that you're only 21 years old.
00:53Where do you think you're at in terms of your career development, both on and off the court?
00:57I think on court, I feel like so far away from my potential, which I guess if you asked me that before, I used to think, oh, like it's happening now.
01:06So I got to capitalize the moment.
01:07But then I'm like looking at the tour and I'm seeing girls like really having their best results at like 25, 26.
01:13So I feel like in four years, I feel like I would be where I would like to be.
01:18But obviously, that doesn't take away from everything I've done right now.
01:22But I think I'm just eager to improve and get better.
01:24You've had quite the journey.
01:26I'm curious, whose bright idea was it to put a tennis racket in your hand?
01:29My dad's idea, he saw Serena win, I think Australian Open.
01:34I don't remember what year it was, but I was like five or six years old.
01:38And he just brought me a pink racket and I was hitting against the garage at our house.
01:43But I did other sports.
01:45I did track and field.
01:45I did basketball.
01:46I did gymnastics.
01:47My parents knew they wanted to athlete.
01:48I was whatever those TikTok means, like Project Mbappe or Project LeBron.
01:53And I was definitely going to be a Project something.
01:56But then it just happened to be tennis.
01:57Well, that's interesting because both of your parents were high-level athletes.
02:00I believe your dad played college basketball and your mom competed in track and fields.
02:04How did that influence you?
02:06I mean, like you said, the project type athlete kid here.
02:08But how did that impact childhood?
02:10Yeah, I think for me, it just they knew what not to do from their own experiences.
02:16My mom, she was a high-level gymnast before she switched to track.
02:20But she had to make the next level.
02:23She had to move cross-country.
02:24And her parents were like, no way, we're doing that.
02:26So she pivoted to track and field and was successful at that.
02:30And then my dad, he just didn't have really anyone giving him structure in his life when
02:34it came to sports.
02:35So he was just figuring it out all on his own.
02:37So I think they both learned from those experiences.
02:39And so when it came time for me to travel with tennis or whatever, they weren't turned off by it.
02:43They were like, OK, we're going to embrace that because they wish they would have did that
02:46for themselves.
02:47So I think for the training part, I think they just learned a lot from their experiences
02:51because they both wanted to be pro in their sports, but just couldn't quite get there.
02:56So they're like, how can we not have that happen for our child?
02:59Does that mean childhood was basically pretty unconventional, always doing this and that?
03:04Yeah, I would say for the early parts, it was pretty conventional.
03:07I went to regular school up until second or third grade, very early.
03:11And then after that, I did online school.
03:13We moved from Atlanta to Florida to pursue tennis and do the whole shebang.
03:19That was like the popular or it is still a popular thing.
03:22Florida's the tennis capital of the world.
03:23So I would go to the academy, practice in the mornings, do school in between, and then
03:28practice again in the afternoon and then do school after.
03:30So it felt conventional at the time because so many tennis players go through that process.
03:36So I don't even feel like the odd one out, but definitely when you compare it to maybe
03:39what my brothers are doing, it's unconventional.
03:42Yeah, yeah.
03:43At what point did you kind of realize that you had a gif that you're better than everyone
03:47else, I guess, at that level and maybe professional tennis would be something for you?
03:50There was a few moments when I won Little Mo when I was eight years old.
03:54It was like an international tournament.
03:56It was in New York City and it was kids from all over the world coming to play that tournament.
04:01And so for me, it was like, oh, like I was just so used to playing people in my backyard.
04:05I was like, oh, maybe I actually have a shot.
04:07But I was still like only eight, so I didn't have any awareness.
04:10But I think when I won Junior French Open, I think I was 13 or 14, 13 when that happened.
04:17I think, or no, I finaled US, yeah, I was 13.
04:20I think that's when I realized, okay, a lot of people were doing winning Junior Slams and
04:26turning pro.
04:27So I felt like at that time I knew I would go pro.
04:29But, you know, there's no guarantee you're going to be successful or not.
04:32What horse does, did the idea of being a child prodigy, did that, you know, was that difficult
04:37to deal with?
04:38Was that something that you enjoyed?
04:40I think when I was younger, like, obviously looking back, I was like, yeah, I was a child
04:44prodigy, but at the time I didn't view myself as that.
04:47I was just me.
04:49And I was just playing tennis and I didn't compare my ages to anyone or whatever.
04:54It was just about me doing the best that I could do.
04:56And my parents, you know, they were proud of me, but they never made me hype.
05:00They never hyped me up.
05:01They were like, okay, you're proud, but, you know, you're still got to do this and that.
05:05So they would never hype me up when it came to that.
05:06So my head never, I guess, grasped.
05:08So like the journey that I was, I guess, set to be out on.
05:13But now looking back, yeah, I definitely would consider myself that.
05:17That's funny.
05:18Obviously, you know, when it comes to achieving anything great, you know, is that saying,
05:21it takes a village.
05:22And your parents really, you know, they made some sacrifices, obviously, put careers to
05:26the side.
05:27Mom homeschooled you.
05:28Dad coached you.
05:29What did that sacrifice mean to you?
05:31Yeah, at the time, I don't think I grasp how, because, you know, you don't know any concept
05:36of money or anything.
05:38And like for me, we, when we moved from Georgia, I lived with my, we lived with my grandparents
05:43like in their house.
05:45And obviously as a kid, you're not thinking, oh, it's to save money or whatever.
05:48I'm just like, oh, I get to go live in Florida, live with my grandparents.
05:51And that's so fun to be around my cousins and everything.
05:55But now I'm looking back like, yeah, that's crazy.
05:57Like my, from a two-income household to a no-income household, to sacrifice for that.
06:04And yeah, I think for me, I know my mom's passion was teaching.
06:08And you can still see it in her now when my brothers are, she has like, our house is like
06:14a classroom in some places.
06:15But you can see her passion.
06:16And for me, for someone to like step aside from that to help support me, meant a lot
06:21to me.
06:21And then my dad, he didn't, like, he didn't grow up playing tennis.
06:25He didn't know a lot about tennis, but he basically like taught himself everything.
06:28He knew about tennis to teach me.
06:30And I would say he did pretty good at it.
06:32I'd say so, too.
06:35You know, you've obviously, you mentioned Serena Williams.
06:38You've looked up to her a long time.
06:39I'm curious, you know, as you're this burgeoning tennis player, what did Serena's influence
06:43mean for you?
06:44It meant everything.
06:45I think for me, just seeing someone that looked like me thriving in a sport like tennis,
06:51I felt like I could be, you know, I didn't, something like that.
06:55I didn't, I knew I would feel like I would never match to what she has done for the sport
06:59and on and off the court.
07:00But I was like, maybe I can just like touch like a little bit of her success.
07:04And to have that representation meant a lot to me, even like the few times I've met her,
07:09but I would just grasp of every word she said.
07:11And even now when, like now I, she'll text me sometimes.
07:14I like still can't believe that, you know, I have my idol's number and she's like texting
07:18me.
07:18So I think, you know, I'll never not fan out without her.
07:21And I always make it a point for her to know, like she doesn't, maybe she doesn't know,
07:26or maybe she does like how much she meant to me or it means to me, just as being an icon
07:31of the sport.
07:32Do you remember when you met her for the first time?
07:34Yeah, I think I was, I think I was like 10 or 11 years old and they actually needed a
07:40body double for a shoot that she was doing to play a younger version of her.
07:45And so that last minute they asked me to do it and I did it and I got to meet her at the
07:51shoot and I mean, I don't even know if she knew I played tennis at the time or anything
07:55like that, but she was just so kind.
07:58And I think later on in the shoot, then someone must have told her that I played tennis.
08:01So she was just like, oh, keep, you know, keep believing yourself and, you know, work
08:05hard, you know, the typical rundown, but like, you know, as a kid, you're just grasping on
08:09to everything.
08:09And I just remember like her walking by and it just felt like not real.
08:14I would have, you could have told me that was Jesus and I would have been like, oh my God,
08:17yes.
08:18Is, um, you know, you said work hard, do well.
08:21Is that the best piece of advice she gave you?
08:22She ever gave you anything?
08:23No, over time when I, I grew up and like, she started to grasp of like maybe who I was.
08:29Um, no, I think for me, you know, she told me that there was ups and downs and like this
08:34journey and also with the outside noise and things like that.
08:37And just trying to focus on your path, your, your pathway and like your expectations of yourself
08:43and not others placed on, not expectations placed by others.
08:46Cause obviously she, she's the goal.
08:48So she had to experience so much pressure.
08:50So just trying to remind me of that.
08:52Yeah.
08:52I mean, obviously you face a lot of pressure too.
08:55The constant comparisons are also, you know, tough to deal with.
08:58I'm curious, your tennis career is progressing.
09:00You make your way to the Maratoglou Academy in France.
09:02How does, how does that change the trajectory of your career at that point?
09:05Yeah, that was my first time leaving out the country.
09:08And, you know, I was training in Florida or anything, but I'd never experienced like
09:12training, like to that level.
09:13Um, it was like a whole new thing for me.
09:17We were doing like, usually the fitness I was doing at home was just, you know, a couple
09:20of cone drills, suicides, like, you know, the typical, whatever, afterschool fitness or
09:24whatever.
09:25But that was just like training, expulsiveness, balancing, like all stuff I never knew about.
09:31Um, and so we, I learned a lot from that week that I spent there.
09:34And then I went back home and tried to implement it.
09:37And then they invited me to come back and I'd still go there, um, but come back and do more
09:43training there.
09:43So I definitely think it changed and it helped me become a good clay court player, which most
09:48Americans aren't, it's not our best service.
09:50So I credit that a lot to his academy.
09:53You turned pro in 2018, you win your first match, and then you also get a wild card into
09:57the U.S. Open.
09:58A year later, you beat Venus Williams at Wimbledon at age 15.
10:02What was that moment like to you?
10:04Was that surreal in any way?
10:07Uh, yeah.
10:07Even now, like, it's moments when I watch that back, like, it doesn't feel like me, that
10:11I just feel like I'm watching somebody else.
10:14Um, I remember when the draw came out, uh, my dad was like, oh, you have Venus.
10:18And I remember being inside.
10:19I was like, oh, that's great.
10:21Um, obviously you're hoping to play someone maybe ranked a lot lower and not Venus Williams
10:26in your first match, which I was definitely hoping for that.
10:28But, you know, I felt like for me, I just thought that, okay, well, I have nothing to
10:33lose out there.
10:34So I was like, let me go out there and just see what I can do.
10:37And I actually had a conversation with Mary Jo Fernandez.
10:39She's a three-time slam finalist before that.
10:43She was like, don't go out there, say how many games you can get.
10:45Go out there to win.
10:46And that conversation, like, changed my whole perspective of how I approached that match.
10:50Because I was definitely going out there to see if I can just get a few games and not
10:54be blown out.
10:55Well, also, you've always won at every level.
10:57So on some level, you're kind of like, I'm out here to win, right?
11:01Yeah.
11:02No, you have the belief that you can win.
11:04But I feel like there's like a difference of belief and then also like knowing and like
11:08that.
11:08I had like belief, but I was like, I don't know if I could do it.
11:12Especially Venus, like at Wombo, then that's like her, that's like, she's a queen of that
11:15surface.
11:16And I mean, at the time, I definitely knew grass and it still isn't, but I definitely
11:20knew grass wasn't the best surface for me.
11:22But yeah, I think I was just, I just remember not looking at the scoreboard because I didn't
11:26want to see Venus Williams' name on the thing.
11:28I didn't want to look at her.
11:29So I was just trying to treat it as me playing the qualifying matches that I did that week,
11:34the week prior.
11:35So obviously, direct result of that success is, you know, people tab you as one of the next
11:39great ones and it becomes, okay, when is Coco Gauff going to win a major?
11:43You know, it's not if she's going to win a major.
11:45I just stay focused, stay calm, you know, shut out all the noise and kind of keep your
11:49goals in sight.
11:51Yeah, it was hard, I think, for me immediately after.
11:53I remember I played US Open that year, my first Open and Main draw and I won my first couple
11:59rounds and then I played Naomi Osaka, who was a defending champion.
12:02I remember going into that match, like, I don't know why, but I just thought I was the favorite,
12:06you know, for some reason, because I had so much noise and going on and people saying,
12:11she's going to do this, she's going to do that.
12:12So I, like, went in and I was like, okay, I'm supposed to win this match.
12:15And obviously, I was delusional to think, like, at 15, you're going to beat the defending
12:19champion in your first US Open.
12:21Like, it can happen for sure, but, you know, just, you shouldn't expect it.
12:24You should just more believe it.
12:25And I think that match was the difference between the Venus match and the Venus match.
12:29I believed that I could win, but not expecting it.
12:31And that match, I went in as, like, expecting I should win.
12:34And I didn't, I got my butt kicked, I lost 3-0.
12:37And I was, like, I felt pretty bad about myself because I was like, how stupid was I?
12:42And I think that was, like, one of those matches where I felt like I was playing the tournament
12:45for other people, not for myself.
12:47So I think later on, it took a lot of work just realizing to play, like, for myself.
12:52And I think that's when I finally decided that that's when I went on a good run and then won US Open.
12:58So obviously, you know, you come up so early, but it takes a little while to kind of get that first Grand Slam.
13:03You have a slew of close calls, some quarterfinals, trip to the finals.
13:07How challenging was that to kind of come so close to your dream but not achieve it at those points in time?
13:12Yeah, I think the hardest was for me was that slam final at Rolling Girls because I just felt it was, like, right there.
13:20And I was like, and it feels right there.
13:21But I think that experience taught me that for the next final that you're not right there.
13:26It's actually you're further away, I feel like, from the trophy in the final than you are in the first round, in a way.
13:33And so that is how I approached the second final.
13:35But that first one was tough.
13:37It took me, like, a long time to get over that.
13:39And I didn't know if I'll ever, like, see myself in that position again.
13:42And I think I thought winning a slam was, like, going to change my life or something.
13:46And it did, like, kind of, but not really.
13:49Like, it really didn't do, like, I don't know.
13:51I thought I would, you know, wake up the next day and feel like Superman.
13:55And I just felt like me.
13:56And so even though I love winning in that aspect, I think it just took me a while to realize that your life is still going to be your life, regardless if you win or lose.
14:05And at that point, you play freer.
14:07Yeah, yeah.
14:08No, I think that makes perfect sense.
14:10But also, Arthur Ashe Stadium, 2023.
14:14Yeah.
14:14You defeated Rina Savalenka, first American to win the Open since Sloane Stevens six years earlier.
14:20What was that moment like?
14:22What does that mean to you to do that?
14:23Yeah, that match, it was a crazy match.
14:27I remember I went in there and, I don't know, I felt like I was just not playing good.
14:31I was, like, obviously Rina's, like, a power hitter.
14:34And I knew I needed to, like, run a lot in that match to win, but also, like, have to be aggressive.
14:39And I just felt like all ends of the court just wasn't working for me.
14:42Like, forehand was not on, backhand was not on.
14:44And so I, like, lost that first set.
14:46And then I went in the bathroom and I was, like, I'm not going to have what happened at Rolling Girls happen today.
14:51And then I, for that, for some reason, from that moment on, I felt like no matter what happened that day, I would win the match.
14:57And that's, like, one of those matches I actually, like, blacked out on.
15:02Like, I really didn't know what happened.
15:05It was, like, the most crazy thing that I can describe, like, immediately after I don't remember, I didn't remember the match.
15:12Like, even when I was doing interviews and stuff, all I could remember was one point, it was, like, a break point.
15:16I hit a backhand cross, passing shot, and that was literally the only thing I remember in that match.
15:20And, I don't know, I think that just goes to show that I felt like I just let my instincts take over, let the practice and training take over.
15:26And to this day, I haven't watched the match back, and I still can't tell you what happened.
15:30So there's no specific reason why you broke through that day.
15:33It just happened to?
15:35It just, I think it was just one of those days you just know that today's your day.
15:40Let me ask you, because a lot of players on your level, they don't continue to play doubles as they kind of advance to this point.
15:45You, obviously, doubles Grand Slam champion, at one point were the number one ranked doubles player.
15:49Why is that important for you to continue to keep doing?
15:52Yeah, I mean, at the time, I don't play as much anymore, but at the time, I just, I mean, I still love playing.
15:57And I think for us, the reason we don't play is just the schedule.
16:00It's just too busy.
16:01But I always knew I wanted to win a double slam, because the Venus, the Williams sisters, they had, I think, like, 14 of them.
16:07I knew I was going to get 14, but I was like, let me just get one.
16:10So that was really the main motivation.
16:12I just, they played a lot of doubles, and I felt like that, why would I not do what the best players did?
16:17So I played, and I think it helps my game a lot.
16:20And even now, I try to put it in my schedule.
16:22So, yeah, for me, it was just important to play and succeed at.
16:26And for some reason, I had the idea that my dad had, I don't know, he told me that most people would have success in doubles before their singles success.
16:33So I always thought when my first slam would be a double slam, and it never happened, but I lost in two doubles finals in the slam.
16:40So I think those losses also helped me in the single slams.
16:43Yeah, yeah.
16:44So kind of as you look ahead on the court, how are you continuing to grow your game?
16:49Yeah, I think I'm just adding a lot more tools in my toolbox and trying to get better at things in my game.
16:55And this offseason, I feel like it's going to be an important one for me, so I'm really looking forward to it.
16:59And, yeah, I think just for me, just becoming a better player overall, I think I'm never going to be satisfied with where I am.
17:06So just finding things I can constantly improve on so that when I go out there and play, I just want to feel like, okay, I want the other girl to feel like they can't win the match, regardless of what they do.
17:16I know one of the key things you're kind of restructuring is your serve.
17:19I'm curious, how's that going?
17:20How's that been?
17:21And how challenging is it to kind of reset that for you?
17:24Yeah, it's been – it was been hard.
17:26I haven't actually practiced since U.S. Open, so – but my last match, even though I lost, I served, like, the best I had in a long time.
17:33So I think for me, literally changing my whole entire motion and being able to serve, like, how I did that last match after a week is, like, showing me that I can improve so much.
17:43And I don't think I – wasn't sure if I trusted, like, the process 100% because of the fact that it's not the first time I tried this.
17:50But with Gavin, I feel very confident in it, and I think in a week improvement, people – everyone saw the improvement.
17:57So I'm just looking forward to having more time on the court.
18:00As a top player, is it tricky to make a change like that in season, knowing, like, you know, fans are watching, media is watching, people are going to say stuff?
18:06Yeah, definitely.
18:07I think, you know, getting asked the same question over and over was, like, annoying.
18:11But, you know, I knew that – I knew what to expect when I made that decision, but I made it for me at the end of the day.
18:18And, yeah, I just think of, like, all the players.
18:22Like, I've talked to Roger and Rafa and things, and they would, you know, add things to their game just to beat, you know, the other big three.
18:29So Novak, and then they would add things to their game just to beat that one person.
18:33And I feel like, for me, that's important for me to do if I want to do as well against the other players on tour.
18:38So we've talked a lot on the court.
18:40I want to pivot off the court because you've had so much success there.
18:43Yeah.
18:43How old were you when the sponsors started to give you interest, start come calling?
18:48I mean, I don't know when they first started calling.
18:50Probably pretty young, I would say, for sure.
18:53Do you remember your first deal?
18:54Well, my first time I signed, like, a pro deal with money and everything was, I think, New Balance when I was 14.
19:02But, like, as far as, like, when the calls, I would say probably, like, 8, 9, 10 years old.
19:08Wow.
19:08But my parents refused to sign my thing too early.
19:13But, yeah, obviously, I wasn't aware of it at the time, for sure.
19:16Yeah.
19:16No, that makes sense.
19:16I'm glad you mentioned New Balance because I'm curious.
19:19What drew you to them specifically?
19:21I'm not going to lie.
19:22I'm always transparent with this conversation.
19:23I wanted to be a Nike person at first.
19:26And they love this when I say this now because that was, like, the thing, you know, when you're younger and in tennis, like, every top junior was with Nike.
19:34But for me, what drew them to me was the uniqueness of it and that, you know, they saw the long-term plan when it came to me as a person on and off the court.
19:44And they were willing to support things that I wanted to pursue off court, which for me was really important.
19:50And I think I always say I wanted to not be known as a tennis player.
19:54I wanted to be known outside of that.
19:55And they really allowed me to do that and make that impact and allow me to do things, like, with Mew Mew.
20:00They allowed me to do things with other things that we've done.
20:03They allowed me to have my own signature shoe before I even won a slam, which is very uncommon.
20:07So I think for me, I think they were just supportive of that from the beginning.
20:11And I'm glad I made that decision.
20:14That's for sure.
20:14I would say the best decision that I ever made as far as, like, any of my deals, I would say, for sure.
20:18Wow.
20:19Yeah, no, that makes sense.
20:20I mean, you mentioned, though, you're getting interest as a young kid.
20:23You're obviously a teenager navigating this world.
20:25So there's this element of balance in terms of, you know, not, you know, doing too much with sponsors and keeping the focus on the court.
20:32How did you balance that when all these offers or these obligations start coming through?
20:36You know, were your parents key there?
20:37What did that look like?
20:38Oh, parents were 100% key.
20:40They, you know, they made me aware enough, but not, like, too aware where I felt like I had to do this to, you know, meet this criteria or do, you know, accomplish this.
20:51So I never knew anything about that.
20:53But it was also them choosing brands that knew that tennis was the main focus and all of this was after that.
20:59And so, yeah, keeping the, I guess, the limitation of the amount of brands that I signed with at a time.
21:05Obviously, I've added more as I've gotten older and been able to handle more.
21:08But when I was younger, I really didn't sign, I guess, as many as I could have.
21:12And I'm glad that I didn't because I don't, I think I would have been lost in the sauce when it came to that.
21:17Why is now, well, the past few years you've been ramping up a bit, but why is now, like, the time to kind of strike?
21:23Do you feel like you're ready to kind of expand?
21:25Yeah, I think I've been able to gauge what my threshold is when it comes to just how I structure my year.
21:32And I feel like when I was younger, I was also doing school on top of that.
21:35So it was just not enough time in the day.
21:38And so now as an adult, I feel like I know where my threshold is.
21:42And so we've been able to maximize that threshold, basically.
21:46And, yeah, I feel like we've been doing a good job of keeping me the focus tennis, but also being able to explore other opportunities as well.
21:52What level of authenticity do you strive for when you're working with a sponsor?
21:56Because I know, like, in the past you worked with Barilla, you're a big pasta eater, I am too.
22:00That's like a no-brainer there, you know, it fits your life.
22:03I know not every deal can be like that, but kind of to what extent are you looking at it like that?
22:08Yeah, I would say pretty much most of them, if not all of them, are all something that I was doing prior to my life.
22:14And then it's just, you know, doing it with this brand, or I was already doing it with that brand, and now I get to capitalize off of that.
22:22One recent one is Naked.
22:24I was already drinking their smoothies, and I was already doing fruit and things like that.
22:29So it's like, now I get to always capitalize and also share with other people something on a much broader scale, which is pretty cool.
22:37Or like Bose, I've been walking with earphones on the court since you guys first saw me.
22:41And so, like, now I get to have my custom headphones and be able to get a brand to customize them to my outfit and share that with other people.
22:50So I think it's just things like that that I think, with all my brands, I try to make sure that it's something that I do and use.
22:56And I have had opportunities that I've turned down because I just knew it wasn't authentic to me, even if it's something as silly.
23:03I don't want to put any brand on the spot, so I'm not going to say.
23:05But silly things that, for sure, I could have just sat there and put my face on it and no one would ever know.
23:10But I'm just like, I know that's not what I do, and I'd rather not do something that I know I don't really use because I feel like it's not fair to my audience to kind of lie.
23:19No, that makes sense.
23:20I'm curious, in this age of the athlete-investor where athletes are doing more and more different things business-wise, investing, taking equity, looking long-term, how are you growing your money long-term?
23:28How are you setting up your future?
23:30Yeah, I think for me, I'm just learning a lot from my dad.
23:32He's worked well in the corporate world and worked well with me and his advisors and my advisors of just investing and finding the right brands to invest in.
23:42One popular one is Unrivaled, which I'm really happy about.
23:45And for me, it's making these investments not only for long-term gain, but also to invest in things that I feel like can just impact the world on a cultural level.
23:55And for me, that was Unrivaled was one of the main ones that I like to talk about just because I feel like, yes, this is great and can help me.
24:03But also just investing in women's sports and putting them at the threshold and on the front page, and not just in tennis, but in sports I care about, like basketball.
24:11You've also launched your own representation practice.
24:13And I'm curious, like, obviously, you know, you're with your previous agency long-term, but you decided to make this decision.
24:18What was the need for doing this, and what do you think you can unlock with your career?
24:22Yeah, I think the main thing was just to have more control in what I want to do.
24:30And as I've gotten older, I don't want to be, like, a face of brands.
24:35Like, obviously, I want to still do that, but also be the brand, if that makes sense.
24:39And my dad always said that this was his plan for me when I was younger and if it was up to me if I wanted to hop on board or not.
24:47And, yeah, 100%, when I became 18, I knew that this was something that I wanted to work for.
24:51And work towards, and obviously, it's very early stages, but I want to be able to produce and do things outside of the sport.
24:59And I feel like having this representation alongside with the support of WME can help accomplish those goals.
25:05And one of the other things, you know, with your business is obviously the upcoming deal with the religion of sport.
25:09Yeah.
25:10Curious what that does for you, kind of why you angled for that, where that fits into the portfolio.
25:14No, I'm really excited about that because that's been a passion of mine.
25:19Alongside with tennis, probably one of my first fashions is just to tell a story and storytelling.
25:25And I feel like there's so many stories that just in my world that I see that I wish that the whole entire world can see,
25:33and especially being a black woman.
25:34And I feel like there's just so many untold stories.
25:37And I think with this and partnering with them, I can tell stories through that.
25:41So I'm really looking forward for that.
25:42I think that's the most exciting thing that I have going on that I can't wait to share more with other people.
25:48We did talk a little about Serena before.
25:49She's obviously a pioneer in terms of the athlete, investor, you know, venture capitalist.
25:53I'm curious, has she ever given you any advice off the court in this kind of arena?
25:56No, I've never gotten advice from her with that.
25:59But I will say she is someone that I've looked up to not only on court, but when it came to that too,
26:05and how I model who I want to be off court.
26:09And so for sure when I saw all the things that she was doing with her venture company and also her husband as well,
26:18I was like, I kind of want, you know, something like that for myself, but in a more personalized way for me.
26:24Yeah, yeah. To switch gears a little bit, you know, we're kind of in this moment where the popularity of women's sports is rapidly growing.
26:32Obviously, in terms of men's and women's tennis, there's still discrepancies,
26:35whether it's pay gap outside of Grand Slams or scheduling of matches.
26:38I'm curious, how do you see yourself using a platform to kind of advocate for these things?
26:43And where should we be focusing on?
26:44Yeah, I mean, in Grand Slams, we're obviously there when it comes to the prize money.
26:49But in the tour, it's a very big gap.
26:51And I think the start is for sure targeting the combined events, ATP and WTA combined events,
26:59because for me, there's no reason we're playing both playing two out of three sets, playing at the same venue.
27:04And sometimes, like, there's female players like me, Irina, Iga, Jess, who are selling out
27:09or selling out some of these stadiums more than some of the other guys who are in there getting paid way more.
27:16So I just think on, like, a fair standpoint that that's one of the – and some combined events have that,
27:24but I would like to reach all of that first, and then we can work our way down when it comes to 500s and 250 level.
27:30But I think combined events, when you look at it objectively, it definitely doesn't make a lot of sense why the pay gap is that large.
27:37Yeah, yeah.
27:38You've also been an advocate for social justice and fought for impactful change here in our country.
27:42I'm curious, what would your advice be to young up-and-coming black athletes about how they can do the same
27:47and follow what you've already done?
27:48Yeah, I would say first, make sure that this is something that you want to do and not feel like you have to do.
27:54I always knew I wanted to with the history of, like, my grandmother.
27:59She was one of the first students to integrate a local high school in Florida,
28:03so I always knew that I felt like when she made such a sacrifice at her age, I think she was 15 when she did that,
28:10that I can easily make a post or talk about it in interviews, nothing compared to the sacrifice she had to go through
28:17with being called all types of things just to go to school.
28:20So I knew that was something I wanted to do from very young, and it was nothing – honestly, my parents tried to steer me away from it
28:26because of the backlash that it could get, but I just feel like I would be doing a disservice if I didn't show up authentically as who I am,
28:33not only on the court but off the court.
28:35So I would say just make sure it's something you want to do, now that you feel like you have to,
28:39and never let anyone tell you that you should just do your sport because no one just does their job.
28:45Your mailman isn't just delivering mail or even Beyoncé isn't just only singing on stage.
28:50Like, you're a whole person, so make sure you explore all parts of you and you feel like that part of that fits you, then do it.
28:57One thing I did want to ask you about, the world's evolving very fast.
29:01Obviously, technology is changing the way we interact, you know, we do things, we gather.
29:06Live sports has been, like, one of the last things that, you know, people are just – you know, it's appointment viewing, people gather for it.
29:12I'm curious, you know, professional athlete who draws crowds both in person and on TV, you know, what does the energy of the crowd mean to you?
29:19What does it mean to you that you are kind of a source for this large social gathering that people still get together and, you know, go to the U.S. Open and enjoy that stuff?
29:27I think it's really cool, and I think being an athlete is one of, like, the coolest things ever because you can get people from all types of backgrounds,
29:36all ethnicities, all religions to kind of root for one thing, which in this world is not a lot of times you can get that.
29:43So I think, especially in tennis, because having all these people root individually for me, you know, it's not like a team sport where people are usually tied to their team because their parents rooted for that team or because they live there.
29:54So I think being a tennis player and having that support, especially when I'm playing at U.S. Open, is, like, really cool.
30:00And when you think about it, like, how I think about it, it just feels, like, really cool to get, like, 20,000 people when I'm playing at U.S. Open, like, basically out of those 20,000 people,
30:09at least all of them, if not all of them are rooting for you, I think that's, like, a pretty cool feeling, to be honest.
30:15What about, you know, obviously the business of being a tennis player outside of the tournament, you know, playing, you know, whether it's exhibitions or this or that?
30:22You know, one of the things that's popped up, these events at Madison Square Garden or Prudential Center, you know, where 30,000 people will come out to see, you know,
30:28you play in the center there.
30:30Has that changed the way you see, you know, being a tennis player or is that just, you know, something that's coming and going?
30:36What do you think of those types of events?
30:37Yeah, I'm someone who doesn't do, I used to do exhibitions when I was younger, but I haven't done one in a while.
30:43I don't really do them, and not because of anything.
30:46I just feel like when the, I don't, I don't know, I feel like when the right opportunity comes up, I'll do it.
30:51I'm one of those people, I like to limit how much I'm, like, spending on court, and, you know, it'll take a lot for me to go out there and do an exhibition.
30:58But I think it's a cool thing because of the fact that you get to see players have fun, you get to see them also compete,
31:05and some of them also have, like, prize, more money for the winner, so people are actually trying sometimes.
31:10So I think it's a cool thing, and I definitely will want to do one in the future.
31:15But, yeah, as for now, I've kind of limited it just so I can, when that moment comes up in the future,
31:20it'll feel more special for all the people involved, not just me, but also the fans, too.
31:23Yeah, yeah, no, I think that makes perfect sense.
31:26I know at 21 years old, we're in kind of, like, the first set of life here.
31:29But I'm curious, like, do you think about what you want your legacy to be?
31:33Ooh, that's a loaded question.
31:35I think on court, obviously I want to win more, but, yeah, I just want to be known as how I'm kind of known now.
31:43I'd like to have to stay the rest of my career as someone who's mentally strong and doesn't give up.
31:46And, you know, you have to be there from the first to the last point.
31:49And then off court, I always say it's important for me to be remembered, like, as a good human
31:53and someone that impacts people's lives, like, not just from them watching me play tennis,
31:58but actually impact their lives.
31:59And that's the main thing, and I always tell my dad and my mom that that's what I want for my life.
32:07Because, you know, sometimes you can get – or now that I'm in this career,
32:10I can see how you can very get lost in the sauce and kind of lose yourself in it.
32:14And I just don't want to lose myself, so I'll never – I'll want to make sure I never do that.
32:18And so I'm glad I have the people around me that I do to make sure I'm staying on that path.
32:22And hopefully when this is all over, I can be like, I did my best, and some people can – you know,
32:27their only memory of me wouldn't be winning, but also how I impact them in some type of way,
32:32whether it's something I say or did.
32:34Any business goals specifically?
32:36Ooh.
32:38I mean, I would love with everything I'm doing with religious sport to transpire to something bigger.
32:43I would love to produce, like, a feature film.
32:46That's one of my goals in the future.
32:50But as far as that, you know, I would love to have my own brand one day.
32:53I don't know what that would be in, but I would love to do that and maybe, like,
32:58start something from the ground up.
33:00So before I let you go, though, I've got to ask you what you're doing when you're not winning tennis tournaments
33:04because I saw your interview about seeing weapons, which I saw as well,
33:08and I had a very similar reaction in theater.
33:11But I'm curious, what do you like to do when you're not on the court?
33:13Oh, I love movies.
33:13I go to movie theaters, like, all the time by myself.
33:16I support my brothers.
33:18They're both playing sports, so being a fan at their sporting events.
33:23And I like to crochet.
33:24I like to read.
33:26And, yeah, just trying to find ways to be creative outside the sport.
33:29So, yeah, and design my kits.
33:31I think that's fun, too.
33:32I know you're a big anime fan.
33:33Yes.
33:33I'm a big fan of My Hero Academia.
33:36Yes.
33:36I have my own personal favorites, but I'm curious if you can give me a few recommendations.
33:39Hunter x Hunter is, like, I think my favorite right now.
33:43Maybe because it's the first one I've ever watched, but for some reason it's my favorite.
33:46It's not really anime, but some people who watch anime haven't seen it.
33:50It's Avatar The Last Airbender.
33:52Your favorite.
33:52Yeah, and a lot of anime watchers haven't seen that, which is crazy for me.
33:58Death Note is good.
33:59And then Demon Slayer is really good, too.
34:03Perfect.
34:04Yeah.
34:05Coco, thanks so much for taking the time today.
34:06Thanks for having me.
34:07Thanks for having me.
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