Coco Gauff Distances Herself from Pickleball at the Olympics

Coco Gauff, the American tennis star, found herself in an awkward situation at the Olympics when U.S. rugby player Ilona Maher brought up pickleball. Known for her social media presence, Maher approached Gauff on the street before the Opening Ceremonies in Paris. The conversation turned tense when Maher mentioned pickleball, prompting Gauff to try and walk away before Maher pulled her back. While their interaction was playful, it highlighted Gauff's serious disdain for the rapidly growing paddle sport.

Maher, with over a million TikTok followers, often shares content about the Olympic Village and interactions among athletes. However, her attempt to relate to Gauff through pickleball was met with clear resistance. This moment underscores a broader sentiment among tennis players who view pickleball as a lesser, though quickly rising, sport. Novak Djokovic recently voiced concerns about tennis's future, suggesting it needs to adapt to compete with pickleball's growing popularity and accessibility in the U.S.

Despite the playful nature of the interaction, Gauff’s reaction reflects a genuine aversion within the tennis community towards pickleball. This sentiment isn’t unique to Gauff; many tennis professionals feel threatened by pickleball's rise. Ironically, Gauff’s coach had earlier suggested incorporating a pickleball element, the "kitchen," into tennis to enhance the game. This idea suggests that while there’s tension, there might also be opportunities for both sports to learn from each other. Nonetheless, it’s clear that at events like the Olympics, tennis players prefer to avoid any pickleball discussion.