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Coco Gauff drags Roger Federer into nasty 'sexism' controversy

Coco Gauff (pictured left) talking on Tik Tok and Roger Federer (pictured right) during a media conference.
Coco Gauff (pictured left) has called out a social media user and used Roger Federer (pictured right) as an example. (Twitter/Getty Images)

Teen sensation Coco Gauff has called out a user for a comment deriding women’s tennis during a social media Q&A.

Gauff isn’t afraid to stand up for what she believes is right and has been vocal and used her platform to throw her support behind the Black Lives Matter Movement in the US.

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Now, she has called out a social media user who made a disparaging comment to women’s tennis, prompting a fierce retort from the 16-year-old star.

Gauff was answering questions on Tik Tok when she came across a remark claiming women tennis players are inferior to men tennis players.

"Bro what do you not understand she plays GIRLS tennis, he plays BOYS tennis, the skill gap is unmeasurable. A pro girl wouldn't even win boys states," a user wrote.

But Gauff hit back, suggesting the remark was derogatory to ‘women’s tennis’.

"First things first: even though I am a girl, I don't play 'girls' tennis. I play women's tennis, I play with grown women. So that's one thing," Gauff said.

Gauff then corrected the user after pointing out it is fine to claim one tennis player is better than another because of their skill level, but not purely based on gender.

"As an athlete, I have no problem in people saying they are better than me because their skill level is better than me," she added.

"But if you think you are better than me for the sole reason that you think you're a boy and I'm a girl... That doesn't make any sense.”

Gauff uses Roger Federer as an example

Gauff then used Roger Federer as an example.

She claimed the 20-time Grand Slam champ could claim to be able to defeat her in a tennis match, but it comes down to their skills, not their gender.

"For example - Roger Federer. If Roger Federer says he can beat me, he 100% can say that because of skill level and his actual game is way better than mine,” she said.

Coco Gauff of USA waves to the crowd.
Coco Gauff of USA is introduced to the 2020 Fed Cup qualifier between USA and Latvia. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)

“But if you say that you can beat me solely because of the fact that I'm a girl, that's stupid."

Gauff rose to stardom at Wimbledon 2019 when she became the youngest ever women’s tennis player to enter the main draw at the age of 15.

She went on to defeat one of her idols, Venus Williams, in the First Round.