Coco Gauff: A Rising Tennis Star
Coco Gauff, the rising tennis star, has continued to make headlines during the offseason by being recognized in Forbes’ prestigious 30 Under 30 list in the sports sector. At just 21 years old, Gauff stands out as the highest-paid female athlete in the world, boasting total earnings of $25 million this year, supplemented by approximately $7.97 million in prize money. Joining her on the Forbes list are notable athletes such as Josh Allen from the Buffalo Bills and Saquon Barkley of the Philadelphia Eagles.
Financial Success and Endorsements
Gauff’s financial success is significantly bolstered by lucrative endorsement partnerships, which include major brands like New Balance, Rolex, Head, Bose, Baker, Tilly, Fanatics, and UPS. Additionally, she has invested in Unrivaled, a women’s basketball league, and is a partner in Religion of Sports, a media production company co-founded by sports legends Tom Brady, Michael Strahan, and Gotham Chopra.
Commitment to Authenticity
In her discussion with Forbes, Gauff emphasized her commitment to authenticity in endorsements, stating she only promotes brands she truly believes in and uses in her daily life.
“With all my brands, I try to make sure it’s something that I do and use. I’ve had opportunities that I’ve turned down because I just knew it wasn’t authentic to me … I’d rather not do something that I know I don’t really use, because it’s not fair to my audience to lie,”
she explained.
Achievements on the Court
Her achievements on the court are equally impressive. Gauff has already claimed titles such as the French Open and the US Open, as well as the WTA Finals, alongside eight other singles championships on the WTA Tour. In the doubles category, Gauff has amassed ten titles, including a victory at the 2024 Roland-Garros tournament. She has reached a career-high ranking of World No. 2 in singles and No. 1 in doubles, with total prize money earnings reaching $29,759,121, placing her at 11th on the all-time earnings list among female players. To break into the top ten, she needs to earn an additional $2.5 million, trailing Germany’s Angelique Kerber, who has $32.5 million in career winnings. At the pinnacle of the list is Serena Williams, who has amassed an astonishing $94,816,730 throughout her illustrious career.
Future Aspirations
Despite her achievements, Gauff remains driven to improve, expressing a desire to reach her full potential over the coming years.
“On court, I feel so far away from my potential. Looking at the tour, I’m seeing girls having their best results at 25, 26, so I feel like in four years I will be where I’d like to be. But obviously that doesn’t take away from everything I’ve done right now. But I’m just eager to improve and get better,”
she stated. Gauff turned professional in 2018 at the young age of 15, and with many years of competitive tennis ahead, her future in the sport looks exceptionally promising.
