When veteran players are asked about the next generation, it is usually to offer advice to rising stars. For Coco Gauff, that question can feel awkward, as she is very much part of the young wave of talent on the WTA Tour.
“The way people ask those questions makes it seem like I am way older than them,” the 21-year-old said with a laugh. “I have been around longer, obviously. But they are my peers. We are the same age. We hang out. We are in the same group.”
Gauff is only three years older than Mirra Andreeva and fellow quarterfinalist Iva Jovic, and two years older than Victoria Mboko, all of whom reached the second week of the 2026 Australian Open. While Jovic and Mboko have recently emerged on the WTA scene, Gauff has been competing at the professional level since her 15th birthday, making her debut at the 2019 Miami Open. She notably defeated Venus Williams at Wimbledon later that year.
Transitioning from juniors to the professional circuit was not easy for the young Gauff. “Some players were stand-offish, and it was a different world than I was used to in juniors,” she recalled. “It was very lonely for me. Now, seeing more players my age succeeding on tour is great. I can see familiar faces at tournaments, and it makes the experience much more social.”
Currently ranked No. 3 in the world, Gauff is still the youngest player in the Top 5 and the second-youngest in the Top 10, behind Andreeva at No. 7. The Next Gen now includes 14 women under 22 in the Top 100, offering a more supportive environment for players like Gauff. She recently partnered Alexandra Eala in doubles at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia, enjoying the opportunity to connect with fellow young players.
“I feel like the last couple of years on tour have been some of my happiest, even if the tennis results have been up and down,” she said. “You see more friendly faces in the locker room. Obviously, there are Jess Pegula and Madison Keys, but they are a little older, so we don’t always connect on the same things.”
Gauff makes a conscious effort to welcome younger players. “Even if I don’t know them well, I try to say ‘Hi’ or ‘Good luck.’ That’s how friendships start, and it’s really cool,” she said, recalling her introduction to Jovic in Cincinnati last summer.
Into her 10th career Grand Slam quarterfinal after defeating Karolina Muchova in three sets, Gauff will look to continue leading the Next Gen in her Australian Open last-eight clash against either Andreeva or No. 12 seed Elina Svitolina.
