Congratulations on your performances at Wimbledon. I cannot wait to watch your fourth round match against Simona Halep, world no. 7, to find out what the rest of the tournament holds for you. During your matches, you have kept me on the edge of my seat and brought tears to my eyes. I, as well as celebrities such as Reese Witherspoon, Michelle Obama and Jaden Smith, watched your performance on Saturday against Polona Hercog, and I, like the rest of the world, am enamored with you.
I have a few words of advice for you. No, not tennis advice. It’s advice from a mother. When I see you on the court, I see my daughter in you: confident, vulnerable, strong, and on the verge of great things in life. There will be many people, like me, claiming you and your successes as their own. I, like any mother, want you to succeed in life, not just on the court.
You are strong. I saw your determination and strength of spirit when you were down 5-2 against Hercog in the second set, and you fended off two match points. I saw your fierceness and resolve when you came from behind to win the second set in a tie breaker. I saw you fight to victory in the third against a very crafty and seasoned opponent. In the future, when it’s not going your way, strive to hide your fears and emotions. They are obvious on your face. And, as you will soon come to learn, the cameras are trained on your face. The commentators will use your emotions against you, as will your opponents. Take note of Roger Federer. You will never know if he is winning or losing from his expressions. Whatever your future holds for you, a poker face on the court and in life is sometimes necessary.
You are lovely. My daughter is delighted that you wear your hair in box braids, like she sometimes does. Young girls of color will copy you. Girls will do their nails like yours. But you are certainly not Cinderella, as you have been dubbed. There’s no glass slipper in tennis, no fairy godmother, and certainly no prince worth dancing with. Instead, it’s about years of raw, hard work, and your parents’ sacrifices, because there undoubtedly were many. You are not anything that anyone calls you, except what you want to be called. You control your narrative. Carefully manage your celebrity.
Beware of instant gratification. Your career should not be about today, this Wimbledon or the next match. Yes, you arrived at a major in such a monumental way, but plan your career as an arc of time plus staying power. Think about the Williams sisters. They have been a known name in tennis for over twenty years, and have been playing for much, much longer than that. Carefully manage your monetary winnings. You will make money, but your power will be beyond what you have the ability to purchase. You now have the power to influence the way people think and act. I see that you are exploring this with your #prayforsudan post and a link to UNICEF’s website, reporting about the deaths and abuse of children in Sudan amid the political and military unrest. This is a cause worth shining a light on. You can do much good, including in the United States.
Dear commentators, please do not make assumptions about this young lady based on the color of her skin. Please do not say, as I have heard, that Coco Gauff is “articulate” and “well spoken.” It presumes that she would not to be. Perhaps when you say that, you mean that she is very engaging with the media, which she is. Or maybe you mean that she stands out when she’s on camera, which she does.
Please do not say that she is “well brought up” and “respectful,” as I have heard. Again, it presumes the opposite. Please do not reference her supportive parents as if this is novel or unexpected. The parents of any 15-year playing Wimbledon are, by definition, supportive. They, of course, would have mentored their daughter over the years to bring them to the moment when they are sitting court-side at the All England Club, sharing in their daughter’s struggles and successes, and doing a dance and pounding their chest after a particular 23-shot rally that turned a match around. Dear tennis fans, please keep all of this in mind when you watch Coco Gauff play tennis and interact with the audience and the media now and as she develops over the years. Do not make assumptions about her background, strength, or athleticism based on her complexion.
Dear Coco, I promised I wouldn’t give you tennis advice, but I happened to be with a group of high-level junior tennis players taking a break at a clinic when I was writing this article. I asked them what their advice to you would be. They said, “Go for it” in your match against Halep because you are the underdog against former world no. 1 Halep and you have have nothing to lose. Another also said, “Play loose.” “Look to move forward;” you have good hands and should play the net more. One young man said, “She’s so good, I’d like her to give me advice.”
I also asked several tennis pros and coaches what advice they would give you. One said, “Swing big and hard. Hit as big as you can and keep attacking.” Set the tone of the match and don’t just respond to your opponent. Another said do not let positivity and enthusiasm derive from your opponent’s failures; instead, both must originate with you. Look confident without showing your emotional ups and downs. A third would not give you any advice. Change nothing. You have a champion mindset; keep thinking that way.
Dear Coco, as you take on Simona Halep, I will watch and rejoice, whether you win or lose. You have made your way into my heart, as well as into the heart of millions of others around the world.
Check out my “Wimbledon Whites” selections in my pro shop.
