Coco Gauff Delivers Blunt Message to Outfit Critics at US Open 2025
**New York, August 28, 2025** — Coco Gauff, the 2023 US Open champion, fired back at critics of her 2025 US Open outfits with a blunt message, emphasizing authenticity over external opinions. After her hard-fought 6-4, 6-7(2), 7-5 first-round win over Ajla Tomljanovic on August 26, Gauff addressed the mixed reactions to her New Balance kit, telling reporters, “I’m going to wear what I want to wear. If you don’t like it, that’s your problem, not mine” (*Sportskeeda.com*, August 27, 2025). Her candid response has reignited discussions about her bold fashion choices as she advances to face Donna Vekic in the second round.
## Gauff’s Defiant Stance on Fashion Criticism
Gauff’s first-round kit—a red cropped tank, white pleated skirt, and her signature Coco CG2 shoes—drew varied reactions, with some fans on X calling it “boring” and “uninspired” compared to her vibrant 2023 pink-and-brown ensemble (*EssentiallySports.com*, August 26, 2024). One post lamented, “New Balance dropped the ball with Coco’s outfit this year” (@TennisFanUSA, August 26, 2025), while another praised her, saying, “Coco’s red look is fire, haters stay quiet” (@CocoGauffFan, August 26, 2025). Addressing the criticism post-match, Gauff stood firm: “I wear what makes me feel good. I’m not here to please everyone” (*Tennis.com*, August 27, 2025). Her collaboration with New Balance and Miu Miu, inspired by New York’s “uptown polish and downtown edge,” was designed to reflect her personality, though some outlets ranked it among the day’s worst outfits (*Sportskeeda.com*, August 27, 2025).
## Performance Amid the Noise
Despite the fashion debate, Gauff’s on-court resilience shone through, overcoming 59 unforced errors and 10 double faults to defeat Tomljanovic in a three-set battle (*USOpen.org*). Her focus remains on defending her 2023 title, bolstered by a new biomechanics coach, Gavin MacMillan, to address serving issues (*Sportskeeda.com*, August 22, 2025). Gauff’s outfit, featuring a custom leather varsity jacket and red accents, was celebrated by New Balance as a nod to her “power and grace” (*ProFootballNetwork.com*, August 27, 2025). She faces a tough second-round match against Vekic, with a potential Naomi Osaka fourth-round clash looming (*CBSSports.com*). Gauff’s defiance mirrors her response to earlier criticism, like Christopher Eubanks’ controversial comparison of her backhand to Jannik Sinner’s (*Sportskeeda.com*, August 27, 2025).
## Broader Context
Gauff’s unapologetic stance echoes the individuality of peers like Emma Raducanu, defending Carlos Alcaraz’s buzz cut, or Luke Littler, navigating darts controversies. Her history of bold fashion—such as her Marvel-inspired Australian Open kit—underscores her commitment to self-expression (*ESPN.com*, January 13, 2025). Fans on X rallied behind her, with one post stating, “Coco shutting down outfit haters is why she’s a champ!” (@TennisVibes, August 27, 2025). As Gauff pushes forward, her blunt message to critics signals a player focused on her game and style, undeterred by outside noise at the 2025 US Open.
