Gauff feels 'fatigued' discussing politics but vows to keep moving forward

VIDEO SHOWS: PRESS CONFERENCE COMMENTS FROM AMERICAN WORLD NUMBER THREE COCO GAUFF ON POLITICAL ISSUES RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT SHOWS: MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA (JANUARY 21, 2026) (TENNIS AUSTRALIA – See restrictions) 1. AMERICAN WORLD NUMBER THREE COCO GAUFF WALKING IN FOR PRESS CONFERENCE AND BEING SEATED 2. WHITE FLASH 3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) COCO GAUFF WHEN ASKED HOW CURIOUS SHE FEELS ABOUT THE STATE OF THE U.S. INTO THE SECOND TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, SAYING: "Okay. I mean, I think I've already stated my opinions in the past on how I feel about it. And yeah, I mean, I hope for more peace in our country and more kindness in the way we speak to each other about different topics and things like that. But yeah, obviously I've been pretty vocal about how I feel. And yeah, I don't feel at this point… I feel a bit fatigued talking about it just because of the fact that it is hard. Also, I think being a Black woman in this country and having to experience things even online and seeing your marginalized communities being affected and knowing that I can only really donate and speak out, and I try my best to do that. But yeah, I just hope that as time continues, we can reach a state where we're not currently in, and we keep moving forward. I posted that video of Martin Luther King yesterday, and that was kind of saying that we must keep moving forward, even though things may not be as common as I would like them to be right now." 4. WHITE FLASH 5.  (SOUNDBITE) (English) COCO GAUFF ON HER SIZEABLE DONATION TO HBCU, SAYING: "Yeah, it's super important for me. I think if I didn't play tennis, I would have loved to attend an HBCU. I have family members on both sides. Both my grandmothers went to HBCUs. My uncle and aunt went to HBCUs, and growing up, I was just attending HBCU classic games and things like that. So, I think for me, it was just important to support that cause, especially in tennis. I feel like HBCU tennis, a lot of times, doesn't get the funding that they need. So for me, I would just always try to uplift, like I said in a previous question, marginalized communities and, you know, put support where I can. And so, yeah, I hope that it goes to students who really need it, and well, it will go to students who need it. And yeah, I'm happy that I was able to do this for the second year in a row." 6. WHITE FLASH 7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) COCO GAUFF WHEN ASKED ARYNA SABALENKA AS WORLD NUMBER ONE HAS QUITE A FEW QUESTIONS, AND IF SHE FEELS ANY PRESSURE TO BE THIS OR THAT, PROMOTING THE GAME, SAYING: "I mean, I don't know. I can't speak from Aryna's (Sabalenka) standpoint, but I can speak from my standpoint. And I think the way that I kind of burst onto the scene and the way I've been, I guess, active in issues going on in the world, I feel like I'm more prone for people to ask me questions like that. And I have no problem. I've always said that I want to do more than just play tennis and affect the world in whatever way I can." 8. WHITE FLASH 9. GAUFF LEAVING PRESSER STORY: American world number three Coco Gauff says she feels "a bit fatigued" talking about politics as the United States enters a second Trump administration, but remains committed to supporting marginalized communities through her actions and donations. The 20-year-old American, speaking candidly about the current political climate after her second-round win at the Australian Open on Wednesday (January 21), expressed hope for "a lot more peace in our country, more kindness in the way we speak to each other about different topics." Despite her weariness with political discourse, Gauff has put her money where her mouth is, making a sizeable donation to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) for the second consecutive year, according to the United Negro College Fund. The cause holds deep personal meaning for the tennis sensation. Gauff specifically highlighted the funding challenges facing HBCU tennis programs.  As one of tennis's biggest stars, Gauff acknowledges she's "more prone to people to ask me questions like that" about social issues, attributing this to "the way that I kind of burst on the scene and the way I have been, I guess, active in issues going on in the world." She added: "I have always said that I want to do more than just play tennis and affect the world in whatever way I can." (Production: Bhagya Ayyavoo)

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