At 21, Coco Gauff has enjoyed hanging out with emerging teens at Australian Open

Coco Gauff has a message for those questioning her about the teenage breakthrough stars at the Australian Open: At 21, she’s not that much older than they are.

“The way people ask the questions make it seem like I’m way older,” Gauff said with a smile after her fourth-round victory. “I have been around longer, obviously, but these are my peers. We are hanging out. We’re in the same age group.”

Gauff’s comments came as 18-year-old Iva Jovic advanced to face world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the quarterfinals at Melbourne Park. Sabalenka, the defending Australian Open champion, had earlier defeated 19-year-old Vicky Mboko in the fourth round.

Despite being on tour for more than five years, Gauff remains among the younger professionals on the circuit. Her journey began with a stunning debut at Wimbledon as a 15-year-old qualifier when she defeated five-time champion Venus Williams. Last year, she captured her first Grand Slam title at the U.S. Open at age 19.

The third-seeded Gauff secured her place in the Australian Open quarterfinals for the third consecutive year with a 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 victory over 19th-seeded Karolina Muchova on Sunday. The win continues a promising pattern for Gauff – she’s gone on to win the title each of the previous four times she has defeated Muchova, including at last year’s U.S. Open.

Sunday’s fourth-round action featured three teenagers, but only Jovic advanced with an emphatic 6-0, 6-1 victory over Yulia Putintseva. Mboko challenged Sabalenka in the second set before falling 6-1, 7-6 (1), while eighth-seeded Mirra Andreeva, also 18, lost 6-2, 6-4 to 31-year-old Elina Svitolina.

Svitolina’s victory marks her 14th Grand Slam quarterfinal appearance, where she will face Gauff, who has now reached the last eight at majors for the 10th time in her young career.

Reflecting on her early professional experiences, Gauff recalled the difficulty of transitioning from junior to professional tennis, particularly the sometimes cold reception from established players.

“Some players don’t talk or even say hi,” she said, explaining why she now makes a point of greeting newcomers to the tour. “Just saying hi or saying good luck. And then you start to talk and then you become friends, and it’s cool.”

Gauff has developed a particular affinity for Jovic, who is competing in just her sixth Grand Slam tournament and making her first run beyond the second round.

“She’s the age of my little brother,” Gauff noted. “I do feel older than them, that’s for sure. But I don’t feel as old as people make it seem.”

While Gauff has spoken with Jovic, she hasn’t offered specific advice, saying, “I feel like she has such a good head on her shoulders. I don’t think she needs that.”

The American star described her early professional career as “very lonely,” even though she counts players like Madison Keys, Jessica Pegula, and Amanda Anisimova as friends. She admits that sometimes she doesn’t “connect” on everything with older players, preferring to socialize with those closer to her age.

“We’re interested in the same things,” Gauff said of her younger peers. “It’s always funny when people ask me the question about the up-and-coming teens. I usually don’t have anything to say, because I’m still figuring out, just like they are.”

She added that the past two years on tour have been some of her happiest, despite inconsistent results at times, “just because you see more friendly faces in the locker room.”

For her part, Jovic appears poised to become a regular presence on the tour. After her impressive run to the quarterfinals, she welcomes the opportunity to test herself against Sabalenka, something she had expressed interest in doing last year.

“Obviously, the Slams are where you want to do well,” Jovic said. “Being here in a Slam just gives me belief that I can be at the highest level of tennis. And, hopefully, be consistently having these results.”

The quarterfinals will provide a fascinating contrast of youth and experience as the young stars look to continue their breakthrough performances against more established champions.