Coco Gauff is the latest American sports star to speak out about the state of American politics.
“Everything going on in the U.S., obviously I’m not really for it. I don’t think people should be dying in the streets just for existing. I don’t like what’s going on,” Gauff, the top-ranked women’s American tennis player, said at a press conference Sunday at the Dubai Tennis Championships.
Gauff added that she’s “proud to be American,” but said citizens of any country “don’t have to represent the entire values of what’s going on in leadership.”
The two-time Grand Slam champion joins a growing list of athletes that have spoken out amid aggressive operations by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis last month. Among the most recent athletes to speak out are Winter Olympians Chloe Kim and Hunter Hess.
President Donald Trump called Hess a “real loser” after Hess said, “just because I’m wearing the flag doesn’t mean I represent everything that’s going on in the U.S.”
Gauff also referenced the comments of fellow U.S. women’s tennis star Madison Keys at the Australian Open last month, when Keys said that she is “not a fan of divisiveness.”
“I am hopeful that we as a country can come together and get back to the values that I think make our country great,” Keys said. “We are very diverse. We are a home of immigrants. and I hope that we can get back to those values.” Keys is ranked No. 17 in the world, and fourth among American women.
The rest of the American tennis stars have not been as direct as Gauff and Keys.
Women’s world No. 5 Jessica Pegula, the second-highest ranked American, said at the Australian Open that she doesn’t “dabble too much into politics,” but added that she wants the country to “come together and work together as far as situations or whether it’s political or not political.”
Taylor Fritz, the top-ranked American men’s player, shut down the question:
“I feel like whatever I say here is going to get put in a headline, and it’s going to get taken out of context. So, I’d really rather not do something that’s going to cause a big distraction for me in the middle of the tournament.”
Amanda Anisimova, who is ranked just below Pegula, had an awkward exchange with a reporter when asked whether events in the U.S. complicate her feelings about representing the country.
“I don’t think that’s relevant,” Anisimova said.
Gauff said Sunday that players have the “right” not to comment when asked about political topics. But she said she’s not one to shy away from politics.
“I never feel torn when I’m asked a question. Obviously when you’re in a tournament, you may not, like, come out and do a statement or things like that. But I never felt torn when I’m asked a question because it is relevant. If you’re asking me, I’m going to tell you how I feel,” Gauff said.
“I think the biggest thing I hate is when people say stay out of it when we’re being asked it. If you ask me, I’m going to give you my honest answer. For me, that’s my honest answer. I always try to always answer honestly. I have no problems. I lived this. My grandma is literally an activist. This is literally my life. I’m okay answering tough questions.”
Gauff’s grandmother, Yvonne Lee Odom, was the first Black student to attend Delray Beach public schools in 1961.
