LONDON (AP) To be clear, Coco Gauff didn’t deliver up the phrase star throughout a current interview with The Related Press; the reporter did. In order Gauff started to reply a query about balancing her life as an expert athlete along with her off-court pursuits, she caught herself repeating that time period.

I positively didnt know the way it will appear to be, she started with a smile, earlier than I acquired to be, I suppose, a star feels bizarre to name myself that however I positively did need to broaden outdoors of tennis. At all times. Since I used to be younger.

She nonetheless is younger, by nearly any measure, and he or she is a extremely good tennis participant Gauff owns the Grand Slam titles and No. 2 rating to show it as she heads into Wimbledon, which begins Monday however the 21-year-old American can be greater than that.

Somebody unafraid to specific her opinions about societal points. Somebody who connects with followers by way of social media. Somebody who’s the highest-paid feminine athlete in any sport, topping $30 million final yr, in keeping with Sportico.com, with lower than a 3rd of that from prize cash and most by way of offers with firms akin to UPS, New Stability, Rolex and Barilla. Somebody who lately launched her personal administration agency.

And somebody who needs to reach the enterprise world lengthy after she not swings a racket on tour.

It’s positively one thing that I need to begin to step up for post-career. Form of begin constructing that course of, which is why I wished to do it early. As a result of I didnt need to really feel like I used to be taking part in catch-up on the finish of my profession, stated Gauff, who will face Dayana Yastremska within the first spherical on the All England Membership on Tuesday.

On the enterprise facet of issues, it doesnt come as pure as tennis feels. Im nonetheless studying, and I’ve rather a lot to find out about,” Gauff stated. “Ive debated various things and what paths I wished to take when it got here to simply stimulating my mind outdoors of the court docket, as a result of I at all times knew that when I completed highschool that I wanted to place my mind into one thing else.

In a marketing campaign introduced this week by UPS, which first partnered with Gauff in 2023 earlier than she gained that yr’s U.S. Open, she connects with enterprise coach Emma Grede identified for working with Kim Kardashian on Skims, and with Khloe Kardashian on Good American to supply mentoring to a few small-business homeowners.

Coco performs a key position in serving to us join with these youthful Gen-Z enterprise homeowners rising or youthful entrepreneurs, Betsy Wilson, VP of digital advertising and model activation at UPS, stated in a telephone interview. Clearly, shes very related in social media and in tradition, and dealing with Coco helps us actually join with that youthful group.

Whereas Grede helped the entrepreneurs, Gauff additionally acquired the chance to select up suggestions.

It’s actually cool to study from somebody like her, Gauff stated. Every time I really feel like Im able to make that leap, I can positively attain out to her for recommendation and issues like that. … It will assist me proper now and positively in the long run.

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Howard Fendrich has been the APs tennis author since 2002. Discover his tales right here: https://apnews.com/creator/howard-fendrich. Extra AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis