Coco Gauff could not hide her emotions when she saw a young student dressed as her for a Black History Month celebration. The two-time Grand Slam champion shared her heartfelt reaction on social media after spotting a photo from a Georgia elementary school’s dress-up day honoring influential Black figures.
A Black History Month Tribute That Touched Coco Gauff’s Heart
Black History Month celebrations across the United States often feature classroom projects that highlight trailblazers in sports, politics, arts, and activism. Students are encouraged to learn about and embody figures who have shaped history and culture. At KIPP Soul Primary School & Academy in Atlanta, Georgia, students participated in a dress-up day to honor prominent Black personalities.
Among the images shared from the event was a young girl dressed as Gauff, complete with tennis-inspired attire that reflected the world No. 4’s signature on-court presence. For a 21-year-old athlete still early in her professional journey, being recognized in that way underscores her growing cultural impact beyond tennis.
Gauff reposted the image to her Instagram Stories and expressed how deeply the gesture moved her. “ugh this make me so emotional 😭 I remember doing this project as a kid and now the kids are doing me…wow 🥹,” she wrote.
Where Does Gauff Stand After the Opening Stretch of 2026?
Gauff’s 2026 season so far has been a mix of deep runs and early exits, characterized by a persistent battle with her serve. Entering the year as the world No. 4, Gauff kicked off her Australian Open campaign by defeating Kamilla Rakhimova, Olga Danilovic, Hailey Baptiste, and Karolina Muchova in the early rounds. However, her run ended in the quarterfinals against the 12th seed, Elina Svitolina, who dominated Gauff with a 6-1, 6-2 victory.
The Middle East swing proved to be even more of a rollercoaster for the 21-year-old American. At the Qatar Open in Doha, Gauff suffered a shocking opening-match exit. After receiving a first-round bye, she was defeated 6-4, 6-2 by Italian lucky loser Elisabetta Cocciaretto. While Gauff’s first-serve percentage was high, she was plagued by 39 unforced errors, most of which came from her forehand wing.
In doubles, she partnered with Victoria Mboko, but the duo lost in the first round to seventh seeds Cristina Bucșa and Nicole Melichar-Martinez.
MORE: Coco Gauff Emotional After Being Reminded of Her Career’s Journey During Black History Month
Gauff showed much more resilience the following week at the Dubai Tennis Championships, where she reached the semifinals. En route to the final four, she defeated Anna Kalinskaya, Elise Mertens, and Alexandra Eala. She then faced a rematch with seventh seed Svitolina.
In a three-hour marathon that featured a 15-13 second-set tiebreak, Gauff saved four match points to force a decider. Ultimately, her serve faltered in the final set, leading to a 4-6, 7-6 (13), 4-6 loss.
Next up for Gauff is the prestigious ‘Sunshine Swing,’ consisting of back-to-back WTA 1000 tournaments in the United States. She is scheduled to compete at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells from March 4-15, followed immediately by the Miami Open from March 17-29.
