Coco Gauff admits she used to "try to fit in some sort of box" growing up as a Black athlete, but that is a thing of the past as the 21-year-old says she is now fully herself in everything she does.
Gauff, who will celebrate her 22nd birthday in March, has been the face of American women's tennis for the past couple of years after winning two Grand Slam titles, becoming a WTA Finals champion, and getting as high as No. 2 in the ranking.
Over the years, Gauff spoke multiple times about how Serena Williams and Venus Williams inspired her to dream big and paved a way for her to be successful as a Black tennis player.
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Gauff: Don't let other people out your limitations on you
"In the past, I would try to fit into whatever box people were trying to put me in. Youre growing up in this world and especially in my sport, being a woman of color, just trying to fit in some sort of box, and as I've grown and matured, I've realized I just have to be myself and people appreciate that," the 21-year-old told Teen Vogue.
"The biggest advice that I would give them is: You know your own limits. Don't let other people put your limitations on you. You'll find that oftentimes they limit you or dumb you down to a level that you don't deserve to be at. I always tell people to keep pushing yourself and pushing your own limits."
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Moments after beating Aryna Sabalenka in the 2023 US Open final, an emotional Gauff took a moment during the trophy ceremony to pay tribute to the Williams sisters.
Gauff isn't only the face of American women's tennis, but she has also been one of the faces of the WTA for the past couple of years and she is an ambassador to some of the most prestigious and luxurious brands. This week, the American became a global ambassador for Mercedes-Benz.
