Coco Gauff’s biggest nemesis? Making her own doctor’s appointments

Coco Gauff was all business in her opening win at the Miami Open presented by Itau, seeing off the always-dangerous Wang Qiang 7-5, 6-4 on Friday. But off the court, the newly turned 18-year-old says she still has a lot of growing up to do.

Between trying to schedule a time to get her driver’s license and realizing that she now has to make her own doctor’s appointments, it’s all been a bit of a wake up call for the No. 14-seeded American.

“I guess the biggest thing I'm scared of doing is making my own doctor's appointments for once,” Gauff laughed at the Tennis Channel Live desk with Prakash Amritraj and Dani Klupenger after her win. “I'm like telling my mom, I don't know what to do. And she's just leaving me on a limb!

“Like when I got my [COVID-19] booster shot. She just dropped me off and I was like, Oh my gosh. I don’t even know what insurance I have or anything! So yeah, I gotta grow up more.”

At least Gauff can enjoy the ultimate coming-of-age present: a brand new Audi electric car, picked out for her by her brother and her father. Right? Except that she can’t quite drive it yet, as the American has been too busy winning tennis matches to hit up the DMV for her driver’s license.

“I have my permit. I was trying to get my license on Monday, but I had to come here,” Gauff said. “Now I'm trying to get it before I leave for Europe.

“I need my license because I just want to drive to Chick-fil-A every day!”

A very relatable cause. And it’s understandable that Gauff hasn’t had much time to think about her license—she’s too busy racing up the rankings and racking up a 9-6 record on the season.

She’ll be back on court on Sunday to take on Zhang Shuai in the third round, as she seeks to book a place in the round of 16 at her home tournament for the first time. And maybe after that, a place in line at the DMV.