American tennis star Coco Gauff recently shared the animal-inspired nickname her fans bestowed upon her at the China Open. However, it wasn’t an animal she personally identified with; in fact, it was her boyfriend Jalen Sera’s favorite. The playful revelation came following her hard-fought victory over Canada’s Leylah Fernandez.
Coco Gauff Playfully Snubs Boyfriend Jalen’s Favorite Animal To Reveal the One She Identifies With
Gauff entered the clash as the clear favorite, having never dropped a set to Fernandez in their two previous professional meetings on hard courts and as juniors. True to form in Beijing, the American asserted early control, sealing the opening set 6-4.
Fernandez, however, refused to go down quietly on the Diamond Court. With Gauff’s first-serve percentage dipping from 75% to 53% in the second set, the Canadian seized her chance and, despite trailing 5-4, battled back to claim it 6-4.
Coco Gauff wins an OUTRAGEOUS point against Leylah Fernandez in Beijing.
Footspeed from another planet.
🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) September 28, 2025
The deciding set proved just as fiercely contested, with Gauff’s nine double faults becoming a worrying factor. Serving for the match at 5-2, she faltered, allowing Fernandez to mount a spirited fight and extend the battle. Still, the World No. 3 steadied herself in time, winning the set 7-5 after 2 hours and 45 minutes to finally subdue the Canadian.
Fresh off her hard-fought victory, Gauff sat down for her post-match press conference, where a lighter question broke through the usual flurry of inquiries. She was asked whether her Chinese fans had given her an animal-inspired nickname and if she was satisfied with it.
“Yeah, there was a fan, his name is Hans (phonetic). He told me I’m the wolf. I need to ask him why he chose that. I don’t see myself as a wolf. I feel like a wolf is a little bit more serious. Maybe I’m like that on the court. Wolves are pretty animals. It’s my boyfriend’s favorite animal, I’m pretty sure. I’ll take it,” she said.
Gauff added that she would choose an orca, admitting her fascination with killer whales and their documentaries. She jokingly cut herself short with laughter.
MORE: Coco Gauff Reveals Boyfriend Jalen Sera Is the Only Person Who Can ‘Take Her Mood’ After a Loss
“If I had to choose an animal, I really love Orcas, killer whales. I think they’re really cool. I watch like a bunch of documentaries on them. I’m rambling. I’ll shut up. Thank you, guys (laughter),” she added.
Gauff has long opened up about life off the court, but her relationship remained private until she revealed it earlier this year with Atlanta musician Sera in a promotional clip for BOSE. The pair often gives fans a glimpse into their lives, with Gauff’s fondness for Sera clear in their social media posts.
