It’s only a matter of time before US tennis ace Coco Gauff nets her first grand slam. As Wimbledon gets ready for ‘Cocomania’, she talks about political activism, the loneliness of tour life – and how her home friends keep her feet on the ground
Boxing is a dangerous sport, Coco Gauff has discovered. “I broke a couple of nails,” laughs the tennis star, who spent her off-season learning from a real-life fighter. Since it was all pad and bag work, there was no chance of getting punched in the face, even by her 15-year-old brother, Codey, who was training alongside her. “I don’t see myself fighting anyone soon,” says Gauff, “because I don’t think I’d be able to take a hit.”
Still, it was good for her balance and footwork, and feeling attuned to her body. Her Rocky-style epiphany came when her trainer explained fights aren’t won by a single knockout punch – but all the moves that lead up to it. “You have to learn to be patient,” she says. “It taught me not to look for the finish line right away, but to enjoy the journey there.”
