"The world can be harsh" - Coco Gauff addresses being deemed "immature" after China Open win; reiterates embracing "kid-like" mindset

Ecotrans Ladies Open Berlin 2024 - Day 4 - Source: Getty
Ecotrans Ladies Open Berlin 2024 - Day 4 - Source: Getty

Coco Gauff recently reflected on her perceived 'kid-like' mindset when handling online trolls after her 2024 China Open. Consequently, the American faced criticism on social media for engaging with the trolls.

Gauff entered the WTA 1000 event in Beijing following a fourth-round exit at the 2024 US Open. The 20-year-old dominated from the start, defeating Clara Burel, Katie Boulter, Naomi Osaka, Yulia Starodubtseva, Paula Badosa, and eventually Karolina Muchova in the final to claim the title.

Before the China Open, four of her seven titles had come from WTA 250 events, leading the trolls to question her ability to win tournaments at higher levels. Moreover, the China Open was Gauff's first tour-level title of the season since her victory at the WTA 250 event in Auckland in January.

After winning the tournament in Beijing, the American took a subtle jibe at her critics by sharing a picture of her with the trophy on Instagram, accompanied by a message which read:

"She only wins 250s, Well... Whomp Whomp."

However, many fans online disapproved of Gauff's actions and suggested she focus on supportive feedback rather than engage with her critics. Additionally, a fan on X criticized Gauff for responding to her critics, calling her a "five-year-old."

In her response, Gauff emphasized the positivity and creativity of children, expressing her goal to enjoy tennis like she did in her youth.

"Honestly kids have the best out look on life. they are so positive and creative. so I’ll take it❤️ my goal this tournament was to play and enjoy tennis as much as I did when I was a kid because that’s when life was/is the most fun!" She wrote.

Currently competing at the Wuhan Open, Gauff attended a press conference following her second-round win. In light of her recent exchange with trolls, the 20-year-old was asked how she copes with such situations. In response, Gauff acknowledged the option to remain silent but emphasized her commitment to responding positively rather than nastily.

"You know, you could just stay silent. There's sometimes the ones that you respond back. For me, I'm never going to be, like, nasty to someone. You think it. But I believe that the energy you put into the world. I try to put in good energy," she said.

The World No. 6 further highlighted her accomplishments beyond the WTA 250 titles for those who are not satisfied with her performances.

"For me, I realize that you can never make everybody happy. There was a lot of comments on Twitter about, like, how I've only 250s. That's not true. I won a slam, I won a 1000, I won a 500. I won another one a couple days ago. I posted on my story, Here's another (indiscernible) 250," Gauff said.

Gauff expressed that it’s impossible to satisfy everyone and clarified that her exchange with the critic was not a feud. She emphasized that she approaches tournaments with a childlike mindset, wanting to enjoy the game.

"Yeah, for me it's just like you'll never satisfy anybody. We ended up ending it on good terms. It wasn't like a feud. The person thought I was immature. Honestly, I approach almost every tournament in the mindset of me as a kid. How I approached Beijing, I was like I want to approach this how I would play tennis as a kid," she said.

The 20-year-old added that although growing up can lead to losing her inner child, she strives to maintain a youthful perspective.

"Sometimes as I'm becoming more of an adult, I think I realize or lose my inner child in a way. The world can be harsh. I guess as a child, I didn't recognize how harsh it can be. Sometimes I try to go back into that mindset and realize at the end of the day this is my dream now, and it was my dream as a kid. If I don't want to do it for myself now, I can definitely do for myself then," she added.

Coco Gauff is through to the quarterfinals of the Wuhan Open 2024

Coco Gauff through to the Wuhan Open QF - Source: Getty
Coco Gauff through to the Wuhan Open QF - Source: Getty

Coco Gauff has made a strong showing in Wuhan, similar to her performance in Beijing. The American reached the quarterfinals after defeating 13th seed Marta Kostyuk. Gauff won the first set 6-4 and then dominated the second set 6-1 to advance to the last eight.

The sixth-seeded player will next face Magda Linette, with a spot in the semifinals on the line. Linette, unseeded in the tournament, advanced by defeating eighth-seeded Daria Kasatkina in the fourth round in straight sets.

The quarterfinal match will be the second meeting between Gauff and Linette, with the former winning their previous encounter at the 2021 US Open.

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Edited by Vaishnavi Iyer
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