“Those Who Belittled My Daughter, Criticized Her Skin — Open Your Eyes.” Candi Gauff’s Fiery Words After Coco’s Historic Wuhan Win Ignite Global Debate
The tennis world witnessed history at the 2025 Wuhan Open when Coco Gauff, the 21-year-old American prodigy, lifted the championship trophy after a breathtaking three-set battle. But it wasn’t just the victory that made headlines — it was what happened moments later. As Coco’s mother, Candi Gauff, stood before the cameras, her voice steady but burning with emotion, she delivered a statement that sent shockwaves around the world: “Those who belittled my daughter, criticized her skin — open your eyes.”
There were no tears. No triumphant smiles. Just raw power in her words. Within minutes, the clip went viral, spreading across social media platforms from China to the United States. Hashtags like #CandiGauff, #ProudMother, and #StandForCoco dominated Twitter and Weibo trends. Fans flooded the comments with messages of support, calling her speech “a mother’s roar heard around the world.” Others, however, accused her of being “too confrontational” in a moment that should have been purely celebratory. But for Candi Gauff, this was never just about tennis — it was about dignity, resilience, and the long fight against racial prejudice.
The Gauff family has long been admired for their unity, humility, and strength in the face of scrutiny. From the moment Coco burst onto the scene as a teenager defeating Venus Williams, her skin tone and background became frequent subjects of both admiration and unfair criticism. Through it all, her parents — Candi and Corey Gauff — stood quietly behind her, rarely speaking out publicly. That changed in Wuhan.
According to those close to the family, Candi’s speech was not planned. “It came from the heart,” one insider revealed. “She’s been holding in those feelings for years — all the comments, all the comparisons, all the doubts. After Coco’s win, it just came pouring out.” The timing could not have been more symbolic: Coco’s Wuhan victory marked the first time an American woman of color had won a major tournament in Asia since Serena Williams in 2014.
Coco herself addressed her mother’s words later in the press conference. “My mom has always been my biggest supporter,” she said. “She’s seen everything I’ve gone through, everything people have said. I think today, she just wanted the world to know that I’m proud of who I am — and so is she.” Her comments were met with applause from reporters, several of whom admitted that the atmosphere in the room was “electric with emotion.”
In China, reaction to Candi Gauff’s statement was equally intense. Many Chinese fans expressed admiration for her bravery, praising the message of strength and equality. “It wasn’t anger,” one fan wrote on Weibo. “It was truth.” Meanwhile, American media outlets described her words as “the spark that reignited a necessary global conversation.”
As the dust settles, one thing is clear: Candi Gauff didn’t just celebrate her daughter’s victory — she challenged the world to reflect. Her voice, calm but fierce, transcended sport and became a symbol of love, pride, and defiance. And as Coco continues her meteoric rise, it’s evident that behind her powerful serve stands an even stronger force — a mother unafraid to speak truth to the world.
