“GameChangeHERS” is a column by Mia Nuñez highlighting women’s accomplishments in sports.
Coco Gauff went viral last week for her intense dispute with an umpire during her match at the Dubai Tennis Championships.
If you somehow don’t know about Coco Gauff, let me introduce you. She’s a 19-year-old tennis phenom with seven singles titles and eight doubles titles. Her most recent and impressive win was at the U.S. Open in 2023.
Gauff won 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 against Karolína Plíšková, but the umpire didn’t make it easy on her. She got into a heated exchange with an umpire during her match, because her first serve at deuce was called out by the umpire after Pliskova returned it into the net. Gauff successfully challenged the call, as a replay showed the serve was in. However, the umpire still didn’t give her the point.
The umpire argued that he called out before Plíšková returned it, so the point should be replayed because it’s his fault. Gauff was firm in her claim that he called it out after she returned it. After reviewing the clip, Gauff was right, but the umpire remained stubborn and wouldn’t give the point.
After several minutes of arguing with each other, Gauff requested to speak to the tournament supervisor, something that’s well within her right as a competitor. The umpire refused to let her speak to the supervisor and wouldn’t let her talk without constantly interrupting her. Gauff had to replay the point instead of being awarded a point that was rightfully hers. This set a fire under Gauff as she ended up winning her serve and ended Plíšková 11-match winning streak.
After the incident, Gauff’s father took to Instagram to defend and praise his daughter. “The scene is so familiar to women and women of color pleading and fighting to be treated fairly and respectfully by their male counterparts,” he said. Gauff’s father is absolutely right.
This isn’t the first time she has gone viral for an incident like this, and she isn’t the first player who has had to stand up for herself. Serena Williams has gone viral for similar interactions.
Women, especially Black women in tennis, always have to stand up for themselves. Tennis is a predominantly white sport, so it unfortunately isn’t shocking that Gauff is familiar with having to advocate for herself.
In the past, when Williams dealt with the same issues, however, she didn’t have as much support from the media or from the fans. It’s refreshing to see so many people come to the support of Gauff and call out the umpire.
Gauff advocating for herself inspires future generations of athletes, especially female athletes that they can advocate for themselves. She continues to impress the world with not only her phenomenal playing, but her poise and maturity for a 19-year-old.
I’m excited to follow along Gauff’s career as she continues to break barriers in and out of tennis.
“GameChangeHERS” runs every other Thursday.