Home / Sports / Gauff's Teenage Tennis Turmoil: Battling Loneliness and Doubt
Gauff's Teenage Tennis Turmoil: Battling Loneliness and Doubt
2 Oct
Summary
- At 13, Gauff felt lonely and questioned her future in tennis.
- Her parents provided crucial support and adjusted coaching methods.
- Gauff rediscovered her passion, leading to significant career milestones.
Coco Gauff faced profound challenges during her early tennis career, grappling with loneliness and uncertainty about her future in the sport as a teenager. At just 13 years old, she reached the 2017 US Open junior final, but the accompanying attention intensified her struggles. Junior tournaments became more difficult, and she felt isolated from peers.
Homeschooled since third grade, Gauff's entry into social media at 13 exposed her to a typical teenage life she was missing, fueling thoughts of leaving tennis. She admitted to considering a year off, spending time reflecting and questioning her path. Gauff eventually realized she needed to play for herself, not due to external expectations.
The pivotal shift occurred after a significant loss in May 2019. Her mother, Candi, noted a lack of competitive fire, prompting a direct conversation. Candi offered Gauff the choice to leave tennis if unhappy, but insisted on full commitment if she stayed. This led to adjustments in coaching, with her father Corey modifying his approach and other coaches assisting.
These changes preceded remarkable achievements, including her 2019 Wimbledon fourth-round appearance and her first WTA singles title in Linz, Austria. Gauff emerged from this difficult period stronger, with a clearer understanding of her own motivations for playing tennis. Her father clarified that she never received a clinical depression diagnosis, characterizing it as teenage pressure.
