Coco Gauff expressed her understanding of the WTA Tour’s newly introduced gene-testing policy but voiced concerns over the politicized nature of the discussions surrounding it. During her remarks at the Canadian Open in Toronto, following her victory over Kayla Day, Gauff emphasized the need for a more balanced conversation.
Gauff stated, So, yes, I guess I kind of agree with trying to protect the fairness in women’s sports. But I also do not like the attack that it is creating. People who don’t really care, but just want to use this as a reason to attack the trans community — so I’m not really a big fan of that either.
The Women’s Tennis Association implemented mandatory gene-testing for all players competing at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The testing is for the SRY gene, associated with male sex development, found typically on the Y chromosome. The aim, according to the WTA, is to differentiate between biological sex and gender identity without disrespecting any individual’s identity.
Uncertainty remains about how many, if any, transgender women are competing at the Olympic level or within the WTA Tour. The policy has met criticism from human rights advocates and activists for its mandatory nature, paralleling similar measures in sports like track and field, skiing, and boxing.
Gauff raised concerns about the transparency of the policy’s introduction, pointing out that some players learned of it only upon its announcement.
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