Coco Gauff has been one of tennis’ rising stars in recent years. Already a Grand Slam winner, the American star, currently World No. 2, has made her way to the top of the WTA elite. While she has already revealed who she considers to be the GOAT of tennis, she recently opened up about which athletes inspired her outside of tennis.
“Sydney McLaughlin is someone I really like and look up to in that way,” she said of the two-time Olympic hurdler and sprinter. She also had some words for Simone Biles, who has won 11 Olympic medals.
“She just pushes herself and to me that’s crazy because in tennis we had Rafa, Roger and Novak all pushing each other, but in gymnastics, she doesn’t have anyone. So, the fact that she’s been able to move against herself. I think it is pretty cool,” she said during a press conference in Roland Garros.
Gauff also mentioned some basketball legends. “You have the obvious like LeBron, Michael and Kobe, that Mamba mentality. Those are people I look up to outside of tennis, but in tennis, it’s the usual: Serena, Rafa, Novak and Roger. The best of the best,” she added.
The 21-year-old has won nine career singles titles, including the 2023 US Open and 2024 WTA Finals, and nine doubles titles, including the 2024 French Open. With her win over Lois Boisson on Wednesday, Gauff has reached her second singles final at Roland Garros.
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Gauff’s 2025 season so far: She could add her second major win in singles
Gauff opened the year with a strong performance, going unbeaten at the United Cup and leading Team USA to the title with a straight-sets win over Iga Swiatek. At the Australian Open, Gauff reached the quarterfinals before falling to Paula Badosa, ending her 13-match win streak.
Coco Gauff during the 2025 French Open semifinals (Getty Images)
While she was eliminated at the Round of 16 in both Miami and Indian Wells, she rebounded strongly on clay, reaching the finals in both Madrid and Rome with key wins over top-ranked players. Now, at Roland Garros she could add her second major win in singles, but first she will have to beat Aryna Sabalenka in the final on Saturday.
Either way, Gauff has made history as the youngest player to reach 25 career wins at Roland Garros since Martina Hingis achieved the feat in 2000. Hingis was just 19 when she hit that milestone in Paris.
