American tennis star Coco Gauff shared her thoughts on the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) introducing mandatory gender testing. Speaking at a press conference in Toronto, Gauff, who advanced to the Canadian Open 2026 second round with a 6-2, 7-5 win over Kayla Day, offered a balanced view on the new policy. She expressed support for maintaining fairness in women’s sports but also voiced strong support for the transgender community, cautioning against using the new rules as an excuse for hate.
“I’ve talked to a couple other players, and a lot of them didn’t find out until the press release.” Gauff stressed that the organisation needed better communication, adding, “I do think that’s something that could have been more transparent amongst, like, players along across the tour.”
Regarding the policy itself, Gauff admitted that she understands why sports governing bodies are making these rules. Explaining her thoughts on physical competition, she stated, “I understand the reasoning behind it… the biological difference and the need to protect that and preserve that.” She agreed that steps must be taken to keep competition equal for female athletes. “I kind of agree with trying to protect the fairness in women’s sports.”
At the same time, Gauff strongly criticised how this debate is often weaponised to spread hate. She explained, “I do think that this kind of conversation has created a lot of animosity towards the trans community, which I’m not really a big fan of.” Gauff highlighted that some critics act in bad faith, noting there are “people who don’t really care but just want to use this as a reason to attack the trans community.”
Acknowledging how easily quotes can be misinterpreted in sensitive public debates, Gauff admitted, “I don’t really know how to answer really this question in a way that people aren’t going to spin it.” However, “as far as where I stand, I definitely support the trans community, but I also support the need of creating fairness in sport too,” she added.
Coco Gauff says she supports the trans community, but she also understands the reasoning behind the WTA’s mandatory gender test & supports the need of creating fairness in sport
“The WTA recently said it’s going to give gender tests to the players on tour. What’s your impression… pic.twitter.com/wbWqP5A8Ro
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) August 6, 2026
What is the New WTA Gender Testing Policy?
In July 2026, the WTA rolled out a new eligibility rule requiring all female tennis players on the tour to undergo a one-time genetic screening. The test checks for the SRY gene, which is linked to male sex development. Players can provide a cheek swab, saliva, or blood sample to complete the test. The organisation stated that this measure is necessary to ensure equal opportunities and preserve fair competition in professional women’s tennis.
