It’s not every day you see a world-renowned tennis player channeling her inner superhero during her training routine. Yet, that’s precisely what American tennis sensation Coco Gauff is known for. Gauff’s affection for the wall-crawling superhero, Spider-Man, is no secret. From proclaiming “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” as the best-animated movie ever to expressing her Marvel universe fandom through her recent Australian Open attire, Gauff’s fondness for the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man is evident. Recently, her ex-doubles partner, Caty McNally, humorously recreated one of Gauff’s signature gym moves, which instantly went viral.
Flashback to the Australian Open earlier this year when Gauff faced off against Sofia Kenin. While her exceptional on-court skills stole the show, it was her off-court antics that captured the audience’s attention. In a video posted by the official Australian Open TikTok account, Gauff was seen in the gym, seamlessly combining her workout routine with her Spider-Man craze.
Mid-workout, Gauff pulled off an iconic Spider-Man pose, leaving her trainer in fits of laughter. The video, tagged with Gauff’s handle and captioned “This universe’s Spider-Man,” perfectly encapsulated her jovial personality. Subsequently, a gym associate also attempted the same move, earning a nod from Gauff.
Not long after, Caty McNally posted a playful homage to Gauff’s signature move on her Instagram story, captioning it “@cocogauff influenced me.” In the photo, McNally is seen striking the same Spider-Man-inspired pose that Gauff had made famous during the Australian Open. Gauff, the former US champion, quickly re-shared the image on her story, humorously adding, “Spider-stretch going worldwide.” Indeed, this move is not for the faint-hearted and can be quite challenging to pull off in the gym.
Gauff’s love for Spider-Man was first revealed to fans in depth in a 2023 Vogue interview with Corey Seymour. When asked about her unconventional gym exercises, she mentioned a Spider-Man-like stretch that her physio had her perform. Gauff confessed that while it initially felt peculiar, she felt better once she saw other players doing it. True to her words, it appears that Gauff’s unique training style is gaining traction, with fellow professionals like Caty McNally also adopting the Spider-Stretch.
Gauff, the 2024 Roland Garros doubles champion alongside Kateřina Siniaková, first made a name for herself in doubles with Caty McNally. Their partnership, known as McCoco, began in their junior years and saw them clinch the 2018 US Open girls’ doubles title. They later won WTA titles at the 2019 Washington and Luxembourg Opens and the 2021 Emilia Romagna Open, even reaching the US Open final that year. Despite parting ways in 2022, the duo’s legacy remains a fan favorite, highlighting the early prowess of two emerging stars in women’s tennis.
Fast forward to the present, and Gauff’s recent Spider-Man training video has gone viral. However, her focus remains on the upcoming Miami Open, despite her recent form, which has seen a bit of a dip. After starting the year with a United Cup victory, she has struggled to keep up with her WTA Finals winning momentum from last year. She has had a series of early exits, including three consecutive losses to Paula Badosa, Marta Kostyuk, and McCartney Kessler. Despite these challenges, Gauff maintains her determination to bounce back.
Addressing the pre-tournament press conference at Miami, Gauff acknowledged the pressure of being a top player. “If I wasn’t a top-five player, it probably wouldn’t be a conversation. That comes with being at the top. You’re expected to win. And I expect myself to win, as well,” she said.
As Gauff gears up to face Sofia Kenin in the Miami Open, with a 2-2 rivalry and home-court advantage, fans eagerly anticipate whether she can emulate her success from the final stage of last season. Only time will tell.
