Coco Gauff Named the 12th-Most Marketable Athlete In the World, Dances on Live with Her Younger Sibling

Coco Gauff has emerged as a prominent female tennis player, making waves with her exceptional performance and meteoric rise in the sport.

The 19-year-old prodigy won the hearts of Americans when she defeated Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka to clinch her first US Open title. Gauff’s journey to this point has been remarkable, with victories in three other tournaments prior to her appearance at the New York tennis court.

By defeating Sabalenka, Gauff became the youngest American tennis player since Serena Williams in 1999 to win the US Open at the age of 17. This accomplishment has brought her immense joy, as she not only holds the title of champion but was also ranked as the 12th-most marketable athlete in the world by SportsPro Media.

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Gauff’s ranking surpasses that of renowned athletes such as NBA player Stephen Curry, soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo, and football star Travis Kelce. Serena Williams herself has featured on the list three times, with her highest ranking being No. 2 in 2022. If Gauff continues her trajectory toward superstardom, she may eventually reach the same level of success as her idol.

Gauff recently showcased her marketability during an Instagram Live session where she danced with her little brother Cameron to Michael Jackson’s timeless hit, “P.Y.T (Pretty Young Thing).” Fans showered Gauff with love and appreciation, with comments like, “She’s not just a winner on the court, but also on the dance floor!”

Although Gauff isn’t immune to negative comments from fans, she admits that she draws inspiration from the negativity. In one of her post-match interviews during the Chinese Open, Gauff revealed, “Negativity isn’t something I welcome, it’s more like something I use as fuel. It’s strange, maybe I thrive on negativity…I’m incredibly stubborn, I enjoy arguments, and I love proving people wrong.”

This isn’t the first time the Atlanta native has expressed her ability to use negativity to her advantage. After defeating Sabalenka in the US Open Final, Gauff thanked those who doubted her, saying, “To all the people who didn’t believe in me, just a month ago, I won a 500 title, and people said that would be my peak. Two weeks ago, I won a 1000 title, and again people doubted my capabilities. So, here I am with this trophy today.”

Continuing her positive mindset, Gauff added, “I’ve tried my best to handle success with grace, and I’ve been doing my utmost to stay true to myself. So, for all those who thought they were dampening my spirits, you ended up fueling my fire even more. And now, I’m burning brighter than ever.”

While Gauff remains focused on her achievements, her path to victory wasn’t devoid of controversy. In the first round of the US Open, Gauff faced Germany’s Laura Siegemund, and both players criticized the referee’s decisions. Gauff ultimately emerged victorious, but the American crowd expressed their disapproval of Siegemund’s slow play by booing her out of the stadium.

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In the post-match press conference, a visibly distraught Siegemund criticized the referee and the fans. She tearfully expressed, “They showed me no respect. They disregarded my gameplay and the person I am as a player.” She also hinted at the possibility of preferential treatment given to Gauff, stating, “If Coco were taking that much time, it wouldn’t be such a big issue, you know what I mean.”

While the controversy surrounding that match remains in the past, fans can look forward to witnessing Gauff’s brilliance on the court in the upcoming WTA finals, scheduled to begin on October 29. The tournament will be held in Cancun, Mexico.