Coco Gauff has revealed that she and her father broke their personal crying rule after winning the US Open in 2023.
The American tennis star overcame Aryna Sabalenka in three sets at Flushing Meadows last year to claim her maiden Grand Slam title.
But after the game, Gauff said in an Instagram live video that she hadn’t planned on crying.
Gauff continued her explanation of her emotional outburst by introducing a clip of herself performing certain dances inside Arthur Ashe Stadium at the age of nine.
“If you’ve been following me for a while, you just know this has been something the world has put on me at a young age,” Gauff remarked.
“I’m simply relieved that I was able to go past everything in the end and succeed.
“I was a little shocked when I won the match, so that’s where the tears came from. You guys saw the video of me when I was nine years old, and to be honest, I think that girl was crying.
To be honest, I don’t think I was sobbing; instead, I believe the girl in the video was crying since I find it difficult to cry. not in public. I can cry in private or when watching a movie or TV show, but not in public.”
Following her historic win, Gauff’s father, Corey, was likewise overcome with tears.
However, Corey is typically emotionless and stone-cold, much like his daughter.
That’s why, at least to her, his response to Gauff’s victory over Sabalenka was so unexpected.
Flashback to Mike Tyson working with tennis great Coco Gauff on a bag beside a boxing icon
But really, I’m just like my dad,” Gauff remarked.
“I have never seen my dad cry till today. He doesn’t want me to let you know, but he was discovered in 4K. He doesn’t really think he’s that hard.”
The sole Grand Slam singles trophy that Gauff has won to date is her 2023 US Open victory; her next best showing was reaching the 2022 French Open final.
This year at Roland Garros, she did manage to improve, although in the women’s doubles division where she teamed up with Katerina Siniakova.
