5 Questions With 2023 Champion Coco Gauff

2024 China Open champion Coco Gauff is having no problems keeping herself entertained and full of energy in Beijing. 

Lainey Hogg and Maya Sabapathy caught up with the two-time Grand Slam champion following her second-round victory.

You’ve been sharing a lot of videos of unboxing Blind Boxes on social media. Are there any things that you are still looking for in the blind boxes?

I mean honestly, I am not really looking for anything specific. I mean twinkle twinkle might be my favorite series that I have been gifted so far. And there’s also a Marvel one that they gifted me, so I am still looking for Spiderman.

You’re a big basketball fan. With the WNBA playoffs going on right now, are there any teams in particular that you are rooting for?

For sure, the Aces because I like A’ja Wilson. (But) probably the Dream more so, because I just grew up in Atlanta a little bit. And obviously with Angel Reese being there and someone I want to root for.

We go to the University of Missouri, and we know your brother, Codey, is a freshman there. Any plans to go to Columbia to see a game in the spring?

It depends on the tournament schedule, but I'll definitely make it out there in one of the four years. But y’all are really far. How is that? There ain’t nothin’ to do like there, right? Because I asked him if there is a Cheesecake Factory and he said no. He said that there’s just Culver’s.

Well, if y’all run into him, tell him to study because he didn’t do well on his last test.

Throughout the China Open, are there any songs that you’ve been listening to before and after your matches to hype you up?

My chill music I’ve been listening to a lot of Dijon, a lot of Mk.gee here for some reason. And I've been trying to discover new music, so I just started listening to Love Spells. So yeah I’m trying to discover new music because I am hoping to go to Camp Flog Gnaw this year, so I am trying to get my game up on that.

Can you share more about the memorable gifts you received here in China Open, specifically from this year?

Well, this year’s been a lot of Blind Boxes. Her name was Shaw. She gave a Blind Box and also a really nice letter, which kind of made me tear up when I was reading it in my room. It was just crazy because I never thought, like, me from Florida would impact someone all the way here in China. It’s just the beauty of sport, the beauty of tennis, that we can connect across continents.

By Lainey Hogg and Maya Sabapathy