Coco Gauff, currently ranked No. 3 in the world and reigning U.S. Open champion, has voiced strong concerns about the political situation in her home state of Florida. In a recent interview with the Associated Press, the 20-year-old tennis star didn’t hold back as she addressed policies enacted under Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
“It’s a crazy time to be a Floridian—especially a Black one,” Gauff said while speaking from the Italian Open in Rome. She specifically criticized laws passed in 2023 that allow for public books to be challenged and removed from school and community libraries. “We aren’t happy with the current state of our government in Florida, especially everything with the books and just the way our office operates,” she added.
Gauff has never shied away from speaking on social issues. Back in 2020, at just 16 years old, she delivered a powerful speech at a Black Lives Matter protest following the killing of George Floyd. Now, as she prepares to vote in her first U.S. presidential election, Gauff is encouraging others—especially young people—to register and make their voices heard.
“At the end of the day, it comes down to the youth and the community being outspoken,” she said. “I encourage everyone to vote and use your voice, regardless of who you vote for. There’s no point in complaining about the political climate if you don’t exercise your right to vote.”
While Gauff declined to endorse any specific candidate, she emphasized the importance of civic engagement. “Sometimes my generation feels like their vote doesn’t count,” she said. “We all have power—we should use it.”
In response to Gauff’s remarks, Jeremy Redfern, press secretary for Governor DeSantis, issued a statement to the Associated Press asserting that “Florida is thriving.”
Gauff, who hails from Delray Beach, Florida, is one of the top contenders heading into the French Open, which begins this Sunday in Paris.
