After the Wimbledon Championships, Coco Gauff took a break from tennis, choosing to relax and recover before the next part of the season. During a recent interview, the American tennis star recounted her vacation in Central Florida with her boyfriend Jalen Sera, where she had a surprising encounter with an alligator while kayaking.
Following an unexpected early exit from Wimbledon, where she had been considered a contender after her French Open victory, the 22-year-old Gauff returned home to rest. She then openly shared details about her time off, describing the Florida trip as an adventurous break filled with natural beauty and a close interaction with local wildlife.
Speaking about the experience, Gauff said,
“We drove up to Central Florida. I’ve never been up there. But it was great. We went up there. We went kayaking. I was out there with the gators. I was swimming in the springs and it was great. I saw a gator while we were in the kayak.” —Coco Gauff
Despite the unexpected wildlife encounter, Gauff said she felt calm and confident during the outing. She trusted the safety advice of their guide, who reassured them that the alligators would not approach if left undisturbed.
She elaborated,
“I trusted our guide and he was like, you know, if you don’t bother them, they won’t bother you. And we were swimming in the same direction and then he kind of saw that and then he turned around and went the other way. I think he’s more scared of us. But I was on the kayak so I felt okay.” —Coco Gauff
After this brief but memorable break, Gauff resumed competition at the Canadian Open, where she reached the round of 16 before losing to the eventual champion Victoria Mboko.
Preparing for a Cincinnati Open Rematch Against Dayana Yastremska
Following her Canadian Open exit, Coco Gauff started her campaign at the Cincinnati Open strongly, securing a straight-sets win over China‘s Wang Xinyu with a 6-3, 6-2 victory. This solid performance set the stage for her upcoming second-round match against Dayana Yastremska, who is seeded 32nd at the event.
The upcoming clash between Gauff and Yastremska holds added significance, as the two players last faced each other at Wimbledon, where Yastremska upset Gauff in straight sets. Now, the Cincinnati Open presents an opportunity for Gauff to reverse that result and demonstrate her growth since their previous meeting.
As the tournament progresses in Ohio, fans and analysts alike will watch to see if Gauff can channel her recent experiences, including her fearless Florida adventure, into a strong showing against Yastremska.