Coco Gauff Faces Roland Garros Crowd With Grace Years After Serena Williams’ Bitter Experience
The red clay of Roland Garros holds both triumph and trauma for American tennis legends. While Serena Williams conquered the French Open three times in her career, her relationship with the Paris crowd remained strained—marked by unsettling boos and jeers, especially in emotionally charged matches like her 2003 loss to Justine Henin. Now, years later, Coco Gauff faces a similar setting—but with a remarkably different mindset.
Gauff Aims for Respect, But Prepares for Resistance
Ahead of her semifinal clash with France’s Lois Boisson, Gauff was asked how she would handle a potentially hostile crowd cheering against her. Her response was calm, measured, and full of perspective:
*“I hope everyone will be respectful. If not, it’s cool… I can’t get irritated that someone is rooting for their hometown hero, because I would do the same.”*
Gauff says she will not let the French crowd get to her when facing Lois Boisson at Roland Garros, ‘I hope everyone will be respectful. If not, it’s cool… I can’t get irritated that someone is rooting for their hometown hero, because I would do the same’
“How do you keep… pic.twitter.com/mKUYxEbu4J
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) June 4, 2025
Gauff explained that she prepares mentally for these situations and refuses to be shaken by crowd dynamics. “Either I pretend they’re cheering for me… or I use it and don’t let it get to me,” she added. For her, composure is as much a part of the match as the serve.
Echoes of Serena’s Struggles
Serena Williams once admitted that the boos at Roland Garros deeply hurt her. “I was really upset when they booed me,” she said in the early 2000s. That moment in 2003 left her in tears and sparked an ongoing conversation about the reception of American players—especially Black women—on international courts.
Gauff, who has long been seen as Serena’s spiritual successor, shows a maturity beyond her years. While she acknowledges the challenges Serena faced, she’s determined not to let those echoes define her own journey.
From Crowd Jeers to Cool Confidence
Unlike Serena’s more emotional reactions, Gauff has developed an internal toolkit to neutralize distractions. “It makes sports exciting,” she noted, embracing the crowd energy whether for or against her. Her words reflect not just emotional intelligence but a strategic edge: staying focused when pressure surges from all sides.
Can Gauff Change the Narrative in Paris?
As she steps onto the court to face Boisson, Gauff carries more than her racket—she carries a legacy of resilience. If she emerges victorious, it won’t just be a win in the record books. It’ll mark a shift in how American athletes, especially young Black women, command the stage at Roland Garros—with calm, confidence, and grace.
The real match might not just be in the score—it’s in how Coco rewrites the story Serena left behind.