At just 20 years old, Coco Gauff has already accomplished what many athletes spend entire careers chasing: a Grand Slam title, world-class rankings, and millions of devoted fans. But her inclusion in TIME Magazine’s prestigious list of the 100 Most Influential People isn’t just about her powerful forehand or her lightning-fast footwork on the court.
It’s about something far more profound—and it’s a story that reveals the true measure of this remarkable young woman.
More Than a Champion
When Coco Gauff stepped onto the court at Arthur Ashe Stadium during the 2023 US Open, the weight of expectation was crushing. American tennis had been waiting for its next champion, and at nineteen, Gauff carried those hopes on her shoulders. Her victory wasn’t just a personal triumph—it was a moment that electrified a nation and inspired a generation.
But while her tennis achievements are undeniable, TIME’s recognition digs deeper. The magazine didn’t just see an athlete with a trophy case. They saw a young woman who has consistently used her platform to amplify voices that are often silenced, to challenge injustice, and to speak uncomfortable truths even when it would be easier—and more profitable—to stay quiet.
The Moment That Changed Everything
The unexpected reason behind Gauff’s TIME recognition traces back to a series of powerful moments that showcased her courage beyond the baseline. In 2020, during the racial justice protests following George Floyd’s murder, a teenage Gauff didn’t retreat to the safety of her celebrity status. Instead, she stood before thousands at a peaceful protest in her hometown of Delray Beach, Florida, and delivered a speech that went viral worldwide.
“I saw a Dr. King quote that said, ‘The silence of the good people is worse than the brutality of the bad people,'” she told the crowd, her voice steady despite her youth. “We must first ally with each other—Black, white, Asian, Hispanic—before we can ally with anyone else.”
She was just sixteen years old.
But what has truly moved fans and earned her this recognition isn’t just that she spoke up once. It’s that she hasn’t stopped. Even as her star has risen, even as endorsement deals have poured in, even when staying silent would protect her brand, Gauff has remained steadfast in her commitment to social justice, education access, and equality.
The Unexpected Depth
What TIME’s editors discovered—and what has left fans deeply moved—is the breadth of Gauff’s impact off the court. Through her foundation and personal initiatives, she has quietly funded educational programs for underprivileged youth. She’s spoken openly about mental health struggles, helping to destigmatize therapy and vulnerability in professional sports. She’s advocated for gun control reform, environmental protection, and women’s rights with the same intensity she brings to her tennis game.
During interviews, she doesn’t give rehearsed, sanitized answers designed to offend no one. She speaks with remarkable emotional intelligence about complex issues, acknowledging nuance while standing firm in her values. She’s criticized the disparities in pay and treatment between male and female athletes. She’s called out racial inequalities in sports media coverage. She’s used her platform to elevate other young activists and change-makers.
In an era when many celebrities and athletes carefully curate their public personas to maximize marketability, Gauff’s authenticity stands out. She’s not performing activism for Instagram likes. She’s living it, even when it’s complicated and uncomfortable.
The Weight She Carries
Perhaps most moving is Gauff’s own acknowledgment of the responsibility she feels. In recent interviews, she’s spoken candidly about the pressure of being a role model while still figuring out who she is as a person. She’s talked about the fear of saying the wrong thing, of making mistakes in public, of letting people down.
“Sometimes I feel like I’m learning and growing in front of millions of people,” she admitted in one interview. “That’s scary. But I’d rather speak up and risk being imperfect than stay silent when I see injustice.”
This vulnerability—this willingness to be human while being heroic—is what resonates so deeply with fans. She’s not positioning herself as a flawless icon. She’s showing young people that influence and impact don’t require perfection. They require courage, consistency, and compassion.
A New Model of Athletic Excellence
TIME’s recognition of Gauff signals a shift in how we measure athletic greatness. Championships matter, but so does character. Talent opens doors, but what you do once you’re in the room defines your legacy.
Gauff represents a new generation of athletes who refuse to “shut up and dribble” or “stick to sports.” She embodies the understanding that platform comes with responsibility, and that silence in the face of injustice is a choice—one she refuses to make.
Her influence extends far beyond tennis courts. Young girls see her and believe they can be both strong and vulnerable, competitive and compassionate, successful and socially conscious. Young activists see her and understand that youth doesn’t disqualify you from important conversations—it might actually make your voice more essential.
The Response
The reaction to Gauff’s TIME recognition has been overwhelming. Social media erupted with messages of pride, admiration, and gratitude. Former champions, including Billie Jean King and Serena Williams, celebrated the honor. Fans shared stories of how Gauff inspired them to find their own voices, to speak up in their communities, to believe that one person can make a difference.
But perhaps the most touching responses came from parents and educators who shared how Gauff has become a role model for children who don’t just want to watch her play tennis—they want to be like her as a person. In classrooms across America, teachers use her speeches as examples of effective communication and moral courage. In homes, parents point to her as an example of how to use success as a platform for good.
The Road Ahead
At twenty, Gauff’s career is just beginning. She has decades ahead to add to her trophy collection, to break records, to cement her place in tennis history. But her TIME recognition suggests that her ultimate legacy may transcend the sport entirely.
She’s showing us that influence isn’t about follower counts or endorsement deals. It’s about the courage to speak truth, the commitment to lift others as you climb, and the wisdom to understand that true greatness is measured not just by what you achieve for yourself, but by what you inspire in others.
In an age of cynicism, Gauff offers hope. In a time of division, she builds bridges. In a culture that often values performance over principle, she refuses to separate the two.
A Well-Deserved Honor
TIME’s 100 Most Influential People list has featured presidents and revolutionaries, artists and scientists, activists and innovators. This year, it includes a twenty-year-old tennis player from Florida who has shown us that age doesn’t determine impact, and that the most powerful victories sometimes happen off the court.
Coco Gauff’s inclusion isn’t just about what she’s already done. It’s about the trajectory she’s on, the example she’s setting, and the future she’s helping to create. She’s influential not because she tells people what to think, but because she inspires them to think deeply, to care authentically, and to act courageously.
The unexpected reason behind her recognition—this commitment to justice, equity, and truth that goes far beyond her athletic achievements—has indeed left fans deeply moved. But more than that, it’s left them hopeful. If someone so young can carry such wisdom and wield such influence with grace and purpose, perhaps the future is in good hands after all.
Congratulations, Coco. The honor is well-deserved. But something tells us this is just the beginning of your influence on the world.
As Gauff continues to navigate her career, one thing is certain: we’re not just watching a tennis star rise. We’re witnessing the emergence of a leader, an advocate, and a voice for a generation that refuses to stay silent. And that might be her greatest ace yet.