Patrick Mouratoglou, the renowned tennis coach, recently addressed how social media pressure impacts top young athletes such as Coco Gauff, Carlos Alcaraz, Iga Świątek, and Jannik Sinner. These players have already achieved significant success, collecting multiple Grand Slam titles by their early careers, making the issue of digital scrutiny highly relevant to their journeys.
Among them, Świątek leads with six Grand Slam wins, followed closely by Alcaraz with five, Sinner with four, and Gauff with two. Their rankings also highlight their achievements: Świątek, Alcaraz, and Sinner have each reached the World No. 1 position in singles, while Gauff currently holds World No. 2 in singles and has previously been World No. 1 in doubles.
Patrick Mouratoglou on How Media Pressure Shapes Young Players
Mouratoglou explained the intense pressure that young athletes face due to social media and traditional press, describing it as a crucial factor that can either build or break their careers early on. He emphasized that the media’s early spotlight on these players creates a defining moment in their professional path.
Young players are exposed to a huge amount of pressure because of social media, because of the press that puts them very high, very early. It either makes them stronger, if they can deal with it, or it destroys them,
Mouratoglou said.
The coach also reflected on Carlos Alcaraz’s view of today’s tennis world, acknowledging that the environment for current players is drastically different from that of previous generations, mainly due to digital media’s role.
Alcaraz said that he understands and he agrees that it’s because they lived in a new world, in a different world than before. I totally also agree with that. I think those young players like Alcaraz had so much pressure from a young age,
he added.
Mouratoglou highlighted Coco Gauff’s experience with this pressure, noting that although she encountered intense expectations early in her career, she managed to turn that strain into a source of strength and resilience. Her trajectory demonstrates how young athletes can convert overwhelming social demands into powerful personal growth.
Coco Gauff had crazy pressure from a young age. It either destroys you or makes you stronger and gives you more ability to fight pressure. When you have to deal with pressure very young and you haven’t achieved anything big yet, the pressure is really tough,
Mouratoglou explained.
The coach further contrasted these success stories with players from the past, such as Richard Gasquet, who struggled under similar pressures and whose careers were negatively affected by early media expectations.
Some people, it hurts them. [Richard] Gasquet talked about it, and he said how much this hurt him and hurt his career in a way. The fact that when he was 9, he was described as the Mozart of tennis. If you’re able to pass over that and deal with that, it makes you incredibly strong,
Mouratoglou added.
Dealing with Controversy: How Sinner and Świątek Overcame Public Scrutiny
Both Jannik Sinner and Iga Świątek faced significant challenges when they tested positive for banned substances, which subjected them to widespread criticism on social media. Sinner’s positive test was for clostebol, while Świątek tested positive for trimetazidine (TMZ). The former received a one-month suspension, while Świątek was suspended for three months.
Despite the backlash from fans, commentators, and fellow players, both athletes rebounded, displaying remarkable resilience by securing Grand Slam titles at the 2025 Wimbledon Championships. Their recoveries serve as examples of overcoming adverse social media pressures during difficult career moments.
Looking Ahead: Upcoming Competitions for Tennis Stars Facing Social Media Pressure
Coco Gauff, Carlos Alcaraz, Iga Świątek, and Jannik Sinner are preparing to resume competition in the hard-court season at the Canadian Open, scheduled from July 27 to August 7, 2025. The women will compete at the IGA Stadium in Montreal, while the men’s matches will take place at Sobeys Stadium in Toronto.
This upcoming event marks an important step as these players continue to navigate the high expectations fueled by social media, balancing public scrutiny and their athletic ambitions.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Does Coco Gauff have a degree?
A. Congratulations to @CocoGauff for finishing high school! She earned her diploma from the Florida Department of Education after studying through Florida Virtual Flex. For the past four years, the 18-year-old managed to continue her education while also starting a successful career in professional tennis.
Q. Is Coco Gauff the highest paid tennis player?
A. 1. Coco Gauff, a tennis player, earned $30.4 million.
2. Eileen Gu, a skier, made $22 million.
3. Iga Swiatek, also a tennis player, earned $21.4 million.
Q. Is Coco Gauff a millionaire?
A. Coco has reportedly won over $24.3 million in prize money during her tennis career, says Celebrity Net Worth. This achievement places her among the top 20 female tennis earners ever. In 2024, she earned about $9.35 million in prize money alone, the site states.