US tennis star Coco Gauff reveals inspiration from rapper Tyler, The Creator as she seizes 2025 French Open title

Coco Gauff thanked many people in her 2025 French Open victory speech: among them, Tyler, The Creator.

The USA tennis talent overcame world number one Aryna Sabalenka 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-4 in the women’s singles final on Saturday (7 June) to seize her first clay singles Grand Slam, and the third of her career in professional singles and doubles tennis.

After lifting the famed Coupe Suzanne-Lenglen, the 21-year-old quoted Tyler Gregory Okonma, the two-time Grammy Award-winning USA rapper who goes by the name of Tyler, The Creator.

Gauff said in her victory speech on Court Philippe-Chatrier, “I didn’t think honestly that I could do it. But I’m gonna quote Tyler, The Creator right here. He said, ‘If I ever told you I had a doubt inside me, I must be lying.’

“I’d like to leave that with you guys. I think I was lying to myself and I definitely could do it. Shout out to Tyler.”

The quote is from Tyler, The Creator’s latest album ‘Chromakopia’, from the song ‘St. Chroma’. Gauff is a long-time fan of the rapper, and even earned a shoutout in his song ‘Thought I Was Dead’, which says, “…You ain't Coco Gauff you can't serve me”.

Gauff has secured her second singles major title and a first since the 2023 US Open, solidifying her spot as world number two in the WTA rankings going into the grass season and Wimbledon.

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