Coco Gauff bemoans young people not voting in US ahead of Presidential elections, takes pride in voting in one for the first time
Coco Gauff has urged her fellow Americans to participate in the upcoming US presidential elections. While the 20-year-old is currently in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to compete in the 2024 WTA Finals, she has already cast her ballot in the presidential election for the first time in her life.
Gauff has always been vocal about issues close to her heart and has frequently taken to social media and other platforms to advocate for them. In recent weeks, the young American has taken up the mantle of encouraging her compatriots to turn out in huge numbers to vote in the 2024 presidential election between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump.
Amid her 2024 WTA Finals campaign in Riyadh, Gauff appeared for an interview with the National and gave her thoughts about the presidential race and the worsening political climate in the US. She revealed that she has already voted in the election and called on her fellow young Americans, who she thinks are very politically disengaged, to exercise their right to vote at a crucial time in the country's history.
“I voted. I posted content trying to encourage people to vote. It's definitely on my mind. It's a tough time for our country, a crucial time for our country right now. All I can do is encourage people, especially young people, to vote and use their voice. Especially in my generation, there's a lot of people who don't see the power of voting. For me, I do," Coco Gauff said.
Gauff went on to say that she would be very anxious on the day of the US presidential election, and would try to focus on her game and not overthink about the results. She added that she felt very empowered when casting her ballot in the presidential race.
“I don't think it will affect me when I'm playing. It's November 5, so 6 here, it will be a very anxious day that day. Obviously, I voted before in the past for more state, local elections, but first time voting for a presidential election. To be able to do your part felt really cool and empowering,” Coco Gauff said.
Coco Gauff draws inspiration from Kamala Harris - "It's crazy how a person can be one of us and become president"
Coco Gauff spoke about Kamala Harris before the 2024 US Open and marveled at the possibility of her becoming the President of the United States. In her pre-tournament press conference in August, the former World No. 2 revealed that she and Harris had a brief conversation when she received a congratulatory call from the Vice President after her successful title run at the 2023 US Open.
If given a chance to talk to Harris again, Gauff said she would like to know more about her story. Gauff felt a personal connection with Harris because of her background. Harris's parents are Jamaican and Indian immigrants, and Gauff expressed excitement at seeing a woman of color doing so well and possibly becoming her nation's president.
"I've only briefly spoke to her when she congratulated me for US Open last year. What I would ask her is maybe just her story, personal story growing up and how she got to this point in her life."
"I know just from watching, like, you know, her speeches and learning about her story, but I guess from a more personal perspective, because I know her mother was an immigrant. I think anybody, really, it's kind of crazy to see how a person can be, like, one of us and then become the president of the United States or vice president of the United States," Coco Gauff said.
On the tennis side of things, Gauff failed to defend her US Open title but reached the WTA Finals for a second consecutive year after winning the WTA 1000 China Open. In the group stage, she is drawn alongside Iga Swiatek, Jessica Pegula, and Barbora Krejcikova.