Coco Gauff On Her Wimbledon Journey And Winning Her First Grand Slam Title At 19
As she enters the upcoming Championships, Gauff shares with us about her many accomplishments and what they mean to her.
By Penny Wong - published
The annual Wimbledon Championships have commenced, starting with the qualifiers on 24 June, and is set to conclude on 14 July. In the thick of the 2024 season, Coco Gauff finds herself in the top two seeds, just after Polish tennis player Iga Świątek.
Both Gauff and Świątek are Rolex Testimonees, following in the footsteps of Swiss tennis maestro, Roger Federer. Notably, Gauff has been a Rolex Testimonee since 2019, when she was just 15 years old. Gauff had her tennis breakthrough that same year, when she clinched a win against Venus Williams on Centre Court at Wimbledon. At the time, Gauff was the youngest player in history to compete in the women’s singles tournament.
Rolex Testimonee Coco Gauff Celebrates Winning The Women’s Doubles Title At Roland-Garros 2024
In 2023, at the age of 19, the American tennis player won her first Grand Slam title at the US Open. And with Gauff winning the doubles Grand Slam with Czech player Kateřina Siniaková in the French Open earlier this year, tennis fans are looking forward to her performance at Wimbledon. As she emerges from her teens and enters the upcoming Championships, Gauff shares with us about her many accomplishments and what they mean to her.
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What did it mean to have your breakthrough moment at Wimbledon, when you were just 15 years old?
A General View Of Centre Court At The Championships, Wimbledon In 2022
Achieving my breakthrough moment at Wimbledon meant a lot to me–it was an amazing moment in my career. I don’t think I completely grasped the importance of it at the time, and maybe I still haven’t. It’s crazy to see how much my game has evolved since then and how much I have grown as a person in five years. I think it definitely helped to jump start my career as it gave me the belief in my game and what I could achieve in tennis. Reflecting on that time always reminds me of the fearlessness I showed during that tournament and that I should continue to play this way.
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What makes Wimbledon such a special tournament?
Everything is just elevated at Wimbledon. The tournament brings so much to tennis, while honouring the tradition of the sport. When you’re walking around the grounds of The All England Club you see and feel the stories and legends who have played there before you, which makes it very special. The atmosphere and style of the tournament is also unique. I learn a lot every time I play at Wimbledon, about the game of tennis and the history behind it.
Can you describe the feeling of winning your first Grand Slam title on home soil at the 2023 US Open?
I feel like it was perfect and a full storybook moment for my first Grand Slam victory to happen at the US Open. I’ve been going to my home Grand Slam since I was eight years old, as a spectator; so for me to win there, in front of a predominantly American crowd with so many people supporting me, is something I could only dream about. I’m super blessed that my dreams have come true.
What does it mean to be part of the Rolex family of Testimonees?
Being given the opportunity to represent Rolex on a global stage is a great privilege, especially alongside all the other incredible athletes and tennis players they support. I have been with Rolex since I was 15, and for them to have believed in me from such a young age was incredible. To be with them five years later is even more amazing, as it really feels like I’m part of a family. Every time I put my watch on, I feel like I’m representing the brand and I try my best to represent it in the most respectable and honourable way.
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Do you have a favourite Rolex watch and can you tell us the story behind it?
The Oyster Perpetual I wore when I lifted the trophy at the [2023] US Open is the most special watch to me. It’s the first Rolex I ever owned and the face of the watch is purple, which is my favourite colour. I just love everything about it, and it feels even more special now as it was on my wrist when I won my first Grand Slam title. I also prefer to wear silver jewellery over gold, so it has become my everyday watch. I’m lucky to have other Rolex watches, which I also treasure, but I think this one will always be my favourite.
When you’re competing how does it feel seeing Rolex’s support of tournaments around the world?
It’s really special to see Rolex supporting tournaments around the world, while I try to represent the sport the best I can. It’s refreshing and great to know that Rolex is so involved with both men’s and women’s tennis, and that they have been for such a long time. It means a lot for athletes like me and I’m sure it does for the fans and other people involved in tennis too. I think Rolex has played a big part in the growth of women’s sport globally and will continue to do so. Women’s tennis is growing all the time; it’s impacting the popularity of tennis more widely and how many people watch women’s sport in general. I’m proud that Rolex has been supporting both men and women’s sport since the beginning.