Gauff`s Delight in Her Chinese Nicknames
World No. 3, Coco Gauff, recently shared her amusement and appreciation for the unique nicknames she has been given by her fans in China. This revelation came after her convincing victory over Russia`s Kamilla Rakhimova with a score of 6/4, 6/0 in the second round of the Beijing tournament.
When asked about her Chinese nicknames, Gauff responded with enthusiasm:
“Yes, I actually have two! [smiles] `Fruit Salad Queen` — they really love that one. (Gauff is known for eating fruit salads during changeovers in matches.) And also, `Beijing Ambassador` — for all the good things I`ve said about the city. That`s pretty cool.”
Gauff also mentioned her admiration for fellow player Jess Pegula`s nickname, “Big Rich Woman” (a nod to Pegula`s billionaire father). She then playfully challenged her Chinese fanbase:
“I want to challenge the Chinese fans: let them think about what animal suits me [laughs]. `Fruit salad` is great, but an animal sounds cooler.”
The American tennis star expressed immense gratitude for the overwhelming support and generosity from her Chinese fans. She recounted receiving an abundance of gifts, stating, “I`ve received more gifts from them than I have for Christmas in my entire life.” Last year, her suitcase was completely full, making it difficult to transport everything. This time, she came prepared:
“This time I deliberately brought fewer things to leave space. I keep all the gifts; many toys decorate my home. I think Chinese fans are the most creative. I love them very much. This time I came prepared – I brought an extra bag.”
Advocating for Increased Grand Slam Prize Money
Beyond her on-court performance and fan interactions, Gauff also addressed the ongoing discussions among players regarding the effort to increase prize money at Grand Slam tournaments. This initiative gained significant momentum in April when representatives from both the ATP and WTA tours jointly sent a letter to the organizers of the Australian Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon, and the US Open, demanding a substantial increase in prize money.
When questioned about the current status of these efforts and how they might benefit players, Gauff provided insight into the complex process:
“It’s a very long process. We have a representative. I try to comment after him because there was a meeting this week that I didn`t attend – I had practice. They sent me a brief report. So I wouldn`t say I know all the details.”
She clarified the origins and broad goals of the movement:
“It all started in Indian Wells when we signed the letter. The goal is to increase the percentage of prize money, but also to improve conditions not just for us, but for all other players. The Top 10 signed the letter as representatives of the entire tour – hypothetically, the Top 200 or Top 300.”
Gauff acknowledged the unique position of top-ranked players in driving this change, but emphasized the collective benefit:
“Unfortunately, that`s the reality. Top players have more influence; their voices are heard louder. We try to use that. But the main thing is to achieve changes for all players, not just for us,” Gauff concluded during her press conference.
