Born in Atlanta in 2004, Coco Gauff wasn’t your typical child. While other kids were playing tag, Gauff picked up a tennis racquet at the age of six. Her athletic lineage is undeniable – her father, a college basketball player, and her mother, a track and field athlete, instilled a love for competition. But it was a move back to Delray Beach at the age of seven that truly ignited Gauff’s passion for tennis. With better training opportunities, her talent began to blossom, alongside a major cultural shock.

The 20-year-old engaged in an exclusive interview with Forbes on July 10th. With the publication’s senior writer Jabari Young, she deliberated on a wide range of topics including the Paris Olympics and the challenges she faced while growing up. The reigning US Open champion admitted that moving out from Atlanta was not easy for her.

“When I was young it was, you know, it was great and I loved growing up (in Atlanta) especially just being around so many black people in general which when I moved to Florida it was like honestly a big cultural shock. Because I grew up in that and seeing so many people that looked like me. And then I moved to Delray Beach, Florida, where it’s very, it’s not as diverse so that was a cultural shock.”

And Coco Gauff’s statement is well justified. Atlanta is a city known for its rich mixed culture. It is one of the best examples of the Salad Bowl theory where African American, Hispanic, and Asian communities live together and maintain their cultural identities. Hence, the transition would have been definitely challenging for the tennis star. Chatting further in the interview, Gauff acknowledged this fact. 

“In Atlanta, you just see successful people that look like us in all types of areas whereas in other parts of the United States, it’s not really as common.” Gauff trained at the same tennis facilities as the legendary players Serena and Venus Williams. Further in the interview, she acknowledged that watching them play motivated her to pursue a career and leave a mark for many who look like her to shine on the biggest stages. These words of Coco are equally reciprocated by her actions as well.

How did Coco Gauff’s victory give a new facility to aspiring athletes in Florida?

Gauff became one of the youngest Americans to win the US Open last year. What followed as the aftermath of her victory was the reinvigoration of courts at parks, schools, and other public facilities across the U.S. in Gauff’s honor. For the project, the USTA pledged $3 million towards projects which were the same as the total prize money won by Gauff. This year, the project and new facilities came to life as Gauff herself unveiled the refurbished courts.

She believed that such projects could help aspiring athletes fulfill their dreams. “I strongly believe that tennis can continue to become a more accessible sport, and I would like to thank the USTA for continuing to commit to do so.” Continuing further, she expressed the importance of such projects. “ I had a huge dream and this city, my family, my community supported that, and now I’m in the position to help maybe spark that dream in another kid.”

As the season progresses, it would be interesting to see if Gauff can bring more accolades to her city and her family, especially when she is pumped up to play her first Olympics.