Tennis sensation Coco Gauff publicly roasts dad with savage sledge at Australian Open 2023 after cameo in viral TikTok video
Coco Gauff had her Australian Open crowd laughing when she threw a brutal sled in the direction of her father.
The No. 7 seed reached week two of the tournament with a 6-3 6-2 win over fellow American Bernarda Pera on Friday.
WATCH VIDEO ABOVE: Coco Gauff hilariously launches a sledge at dad.
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But it was his post-match interview that got the crowd going as much as any tennis.
A video of the teenage sensation and her two parents that she posted on TikTok has gone viral on the internet, with millions of people around the world watching.
Holding back the laughter, Gauff said she thought she knew why it blew up so much.
“I would say my mom was the best dancer on TikTok…I think it really went viral because my dad did so badly at it,” she said.
“He said people on the street recognize him from TikTok.
“He also asked me if he got a check from the video, and I was like, ‘I don’t think TikTok is paying you,’ so my dad told me he wouldn’t be making any more videos because he doesn’t get paid for them. He said if he was going to look (a) jerk on the internet, he might as well get paid for it.
Coco Gauff delivered a brutal sled directed at her father. Credit: Nine
“But I know I can bring it more on TikTok because my dad is all fun and games.”
Former Australian tennis star Jelena Dokic wondered if other members of Gauff’s team would be set to appear in a sequel. The 18-year-old ruled out her manager but said coach Diego Moyano would surely do so.
“Diego totally would; he already thinks he can dance without a camera,” she said.
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Gauff joins the round of 16 with fellow raging American Jessica Pegula, who will face former French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova in a tantalizing fourth-round clash after the pair advanced to week two of the Open. Australia.
On a day when world No.1 Iga Swiatek swept past Cristina Bucsa 6-0 6-1, she was joined in the fourth round by Wimbledon champion and her next opponent Elena Rybakina, as well as Pegula, Krejcikova, Gauff and Jelena Ostapenko .
Pegula is yet to drop a set in Melbourne and barely broke a sweat in her 6-0 6-2 thrashing of Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk, needing just an hour and five minutes to seal a place in fourth round.
She will next face the reborn Krejcikova, who flew under the radar in her bid to complete a rare double for the Australian Open title and also easily beat a Ukrainian in Anhelina Kalinina 6-2 6-3 on Friday.
Pegula is wary of Krejcikova, who has won all four double slams, was ranked world No. 2 in singles and reached the quarterfinals at The Open last year.
Krejcikova is the 20th seed at Melbourne Park this year after an elbow injury and declining form in the Majors hurt her rankings, but returned to form late last year and stand as a dangerous prospect.
Jessica Pegula is one of the players to beat on the women’s side of the board. Credit: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images
“Obviously I watched her a lot,” Pegula said.
“She’s had some really good years, obviously last year she was a bit hurt. It seems like she’s regaining her confidence
“Actually, I don’t think I’ve ever played her in singles, just doubles.
“So I have a little idea but I will definitely have to watch some more of his matches.”
Pegula was the star of the United States Cup victory, where she beat Swiatek and, at 28, looks set to start back-to-back quarter-finals at Melbourne Park to truly challenge for the title.
Krejcikova, the 2021 French Open singles champion who won the Melbourne Park doubles title in 2022 with compatriot Katerina Siniakova, is yet to drop a set and has dropped just 14 matches over the course of his first three games.
“Everything is improving. I think with every game I get better and better,” she said.
“I’m really happy with how I’ve won so far.”
Seventh-seeded Gauff next faces Ostapenko, who edged out another Ukrainian in Kateryna Baindl 6-3 6-0.
But last year’s runner-up and 13th seed Danielle Collins can’t do better than her 2022 final loss to Ash Barty after being knocked out by Rybakina 6-2 5-7 6-2.
– With PAA
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