Coco Gauff produced a commanding Australian Open performance, sweeping past Olga Danilovic 6-2, 6-2 to reach the third round. Poised and precise at Margaret Court Arena, the third seed dictated rallies and punished every opening. But post-match, the attention briefly shifted as she responded to a more political question.

When asked about the state of America under Donald Trump’s second administration, Gauff responded thoughtfully at her post-match press conference. “I hope forward that we can have a lot more peace in our country and more kindness in the way we speak to each other about different topics & things like that,” said the 21-year-old.

“Obviously, I’ve been pretty vocal about how I felt,” she added, before admitting the topic has become emotionally draining to constantly address. She explained the personal weight behind those conversations:

“At this point, I feel a bit fatigued talking about it just because of the fact that it is hard being a black woman in this country and having to experience things, even online, and seeing marginalized communities being affected and knowing that I can only donate and speak out. I try my best to do that.” 

“But I hope that as time continues that we can reach a state that we’re not currently in, and we keep moving forward,” she added.

The American top seed is widely known for using her platform to speak on matters beyond tennis. Gauff has frequently lent her voice to social justice, politics, and community issues, never shying away from difficult conversations.

For instance, in June 2020, Gauff delivered a powerful speech at a Black Lives Matter rally in Del Ray, Florida. In her speech, she referenced her grandmother’s past activism. “I think it’s sad that I’m here protesting the same thing that she did 50-plus years ago,” Gauff said.

She spoke openly about racial injustice, stressing the importance of unity and dialogue. “I’m here to tell you guys that we must first love each other no matter what,” she said.

“We must have the tough conversations with our friends,” Gauff explained. “I’ve been spending all week having tough conversations, trying to educate my non-black friends on how they can help the movement.”

Her advocacy continued in 2024 ahead of the US presidential election. Gauff emphasized the importance of voting and urged young people to register, speaking to The Associated Press about the political climate.

“It is a crazy time to be a Floridian, especially a Black one at that,” said Gauff. “We aren’t happy with the current state of our government in Florida, especially everything with the books and just the way our office operates,” she added, referencing book bans signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

But while she has had her differences with the current administration, it’s done little to dampen her feelings of patriotism.

Coco Gauff reiterates her American pride after French Open triumph

Coco Gauff’s French Open triumph went beyond tennis; it wasn’t just about her forehands and footwork. Rather, the 21-year-old said emotion and patriotism played a major role in her historic win.

With the win, Gauff became the first American since Serena Williams to lift the trophy in Paris. But her motivation came from an unexpected place, with her victory coming just months after Donald Trump’s 2024 reelection.

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“I remember after the election and everything, it kind of felt like a down period,” Gauff told reporters, reflecting on her mother’s advice before she won the WTA Finals in 2024.

“And my mom told me during Riyadh: ‘Just try to win the tournament just to give something for people to smile for.’ So that’s what I was thinking about today when holding that. And then seeing the flags in the crowd means a lot.”

From the desertS of Riyadh to the red clay of Roland Garros, the motivation followed her. When she finally lifted the Simonne-Mathieu cup, it meant more than personal success. She said it was for HER people back home.

Gauff was clear about her feelings toward national pride. “Some people may feel some type of way about being patriotic,” she said. “But I’m definitely patriotic and proud to be American.”

Now, Gauff turns her focus back to Melbourne after making the third round of the Australian Open for the fourth time. Next, she faces fellow American Hailey Baptiste. They’ve met once before, in Washington in 2023, where Gauff won in straight sets. Can she repeat that success at Melbourne Park?