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'I felt so empowered': Coco Gauff pays tribute to Māori people in Auckland

Championship Sunday at the ASB Classic features cultural elements of indigenous New Zealanders, and top seed Coco Gauff was honored to take part in the festivities.

ByBaseline Staff

Published Jan 08, 2023

WATCH: Gauff didn't lose a set in five matches in Auckland, which also included a semifinal win over No. 7 seed Danka Kovinic.

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New Zealand's biggest tennis event has featured cultural elements of the Māori, the indigenous Polynesian people of the country, on its Championship Sunday for many years—and the opportunity to experience a new culture was not lost on eventual winner Coco Gauff.

Ahead of Sunday's women's final at the ASB Classic, Gauff and Rebeka Masarova walked on court and were first serenaded by a haka, a traditional dance of the Māori that has also played a role in New Zealand's sporting life since the 1880s.

"I’ve seen videos of it performed before various sporting events and was so surprised to see it done before my match," Gauff wrote on Twitter afterwards. "I felt so empowered! Thank you for sharing your culture with me."

Gauff, Masarova and tournament director Nicolas Lamperin watch the haka performed prior to the women's final.

Gauff, Masarova and tournament director Nicolas Lamperin watch the haka performed prior to the women's final.

© Getty Images

After winning the match, 6-1, 6-1, Gauff was also given a Korowai, a traditional finely-woven cloak of the Māori, upon victory, and wore it for the trophy ceremony and to take photos afterwards.

She said she was "beyond grateful" to be presented with the garment, and that it was "an honor" to wear it.

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Gauff dropped just 22 games in 10 sets en route to winning her third career WTA singles title, in her first tournament as the No. 1 seed.