At the age of 21, Coco Gauff has been thoroughly enjoying her time mingling with the emerging teenage talents at the Australian Open. The American tennis star, however, wants those who pose questions to her about the young players breaking through to remember one crucial fact: she herself is only 21 years old.
A Reminder of Youth and Peer Relationships
Gauff expressed her amusement at how inquiries are often framed, making her seem significantly older than the teenage competitors. "The way people ask the questions make it seem like I’m way older than the teenagers," Gauff remarked. "I have been around longer, obviously, but yeah, they’re always, like, ‘Do you have any advice to give them?’ I’m, like, you guys, these are, like, my peers. We are the same. We are hanging out." She added with a smile, "We’re in the same age group."
Gauff's Journey and Current Standing
Despite being on tour for over five years—making a stunning Grand Slam debut as a 15-year-old qualifier at Wimbledon against Venus Williams—Gauff remains among the younger professionals in the sport. She secured her first major title at the age of 19. Currently seeded No. 3 and a two-time major winner, Gauff advanced to the quarterfinals in Australia for the third consecutive year with a hard-fought 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 victory over No. 19 Karolina Muchova on Sunday.
Notably, Gauff has gone on to win the title each of the previous four times she has defeated Muchova, including at the 2023 U.S. Open, which marked her maiden Grand Slam triumph—a feat she achieved while still a teenager.
The Teenage Contingent at Melbourne Park
Three teenagers competed in fourth-round matches on Sunday, but only 18-year-old Iva Jovic progressed, delivering a dominant 6-0, 6-1 win over Yulia Putintseva. Jovic is now set to face No. 1-ranked Aryna Sabalenka in the quarterfinals, after Sabalenka, a two-time champion in Australia, overcame 19-year-old Vicky Mboko 6-1, 7-6 (1) in the fourth round.
In the final match of Day 8, 18-year-old eighth seed Mirra Andreeva fell 6-2, 6-4 to 31-year-old Elina Svitolina, who reached the Grand Slam quarterfinals for the 14th time. Svitolina will next meet Gauff, who is into the last eight for the 10th occasion in her career.
Gauff's Approach to Welcoming Newcomers
Reflecting on her own transition from junior to professional ranks, Gauff recalled finding it challenging when some established players did not engage or even offer greetings. Consequently, she makes a conscious effort to welcome newcomers, helping them feel at ease. "Just saying hi or saying good luck," Gauff explained. "And then you start to talk and then you become friends, and it’s cool."
Regarding Jovic, who is participating in just her sixth Grand Slam tournament and making her first run past the second round, Gauff feels a sister-like connection. "Yeah, she’s the age of my little brother," Gauff noted. "I do feel older than them. That’s for sure. I don’t feel the exact same, but I don’t feel as old as people make it seem."
Gauff added, "I have talked to Iva a couple of times. I have never talked to her about advice or anything—I feel like she has such a good head on her shoulders. I don’t think she needs that."
Navigating Loneliness and Finding Camaraderie
When Gauff first started on tour, she had few peers, describing the experience as "very lonely for me, honestly." While she has formed friendships with players like Madison Keys, Jessica Pegula, and Amanda Anisimova, she sometimes finds that she does not "connect" on every topic. Thus, she still enjoys spending time with a younger crowd occasionally.
"We’re interested in the same things and stuff like that, but it’s always funny when people ask me the question," she said, referring to queries about the up-and-coming teens. "I usually don’t have anything to say, because I’m still figuring out, just like they are."
Gauff continued, "So it’s great to have, like, more people of my age range doing better. I feel like maybe the last two years on tour have been some of my happiest, even though maybe the tennis has been up and down, just because you see more friendly faces in the locker room."
Jovic's Ambitions and Future Prospects
Jovic appears poised for a lasting presence in the sport. She revealed last year that she aspired to face top-ranked Sabalenka to test her abilities. Following her best performance at a major to date, she now has that opportunity. "Obviously, the Slams are where you want to do well," Jovic stated. "Being here in a Slam just gives me belief that I can be at the, you know, highest level of tennis. And, hopefully, be consistently having these results."
