Coco Gauff calls for significant change in tennis and points out where it is a long way behind other sports

At just 21 years old, Coco Gauff has already established herself as one of the leading voices and players on the WTA Tour.

After kicking off her clay season with a commanding win over Ella Seidel in Stuttgart, the world No. 4 suffered an early exit in the next round, falling to Jasmine Paolini in straight sets. Now in Madrid for the WTA 1000 event, Gauff has shifted her focus to bigger issues—calling for a major change in tennis.

Gauff Speaks Out: “Tennis is Far Behind Other Sports”

As the tennis world continues to debate player compensation, especially after the PTPA’s recent legal action against the ATP and a joint letter from top ATP and WTA stars demanding greater Grand Slam prize money, Gauff has added her voice to the conversation.

In a press conference ahead of the Madrid Open, Gauff explained why she signed the letter and emphasized the need for economic reform in tennis.

“The economic distribution in tennis is nowhere near that of other sports,” Gauff said. “Only top players like us can really benefit—those lower down the rankings are often left behind. This isn’t the case in other professional sports.”

While Gauff acknowledged the relative progress women’s tennis has made, she made it clear there’s still a long way to go—and credited Billie Jean King for paving the path.

“We are very fortunate as elite athletes to earn a good living, especially as women. That’s thanks to Billie Jean King and what she did for our sport. But we still have work to do.”

Gauff Eyes Breakthrough in Madrid

Despite being a finalist at Roland Garros in 2022, Gauff hasn’t yet found her stride at the Madrid Open. Her best performance so far came last year when she reached the Round of 16. This time, she’s aiming for a deeper run.

As the No. 4 seed, Gauff has a bye into the second round, where she’ll face the winner of Dayana Yastremska vs. British qualifier Fran Jones. If she advances, potential matchups loom against players like Leylah Fernandez, Beatriz Haddad Maia, and Belinda Bencic on the road to a potential semi-final clash with Iga Swiatek.

Coco Gauff’s Potential Draw at the Madrid Open:

After a strong showing at the Australian Open, where she reached the quarter-finals, Gauff has struggled to find consistency—failing to win more than two matches in a row since. She’ll be hoping the Spanish capital provides a turning point.