2023 US Open champ Coco Gauff wants all the smoke on her backhand after humbling Frances Tiafoe

Coco Gauff is feeling herself at the US Open, and she has the receipts to back up the swagger. The fourth-seeded American revealed she recently squared off against Frances Tiafoe in a backhand battle on the practice court, and by her own account, it was not close. Gauff came out on top and immediately issued an open challenge to the rest of the tour.

Asked about the hitting session with a men’s player, Gauff did not hesitate to name names or claim the bragging rights that came with it. She made it clear that very few opponents can trade backhands with her and walk away happy.

“Anyone who wants smoke, just hit me up,” Gauff said, turning a lighthearted practice story into a genuine flex. The message was playful, but the confidence behind it was real.

Coco knows her backhand is pic.twitter.com/H65ENMhAUN

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 4, 2026

The boast lands because Gauff’s backhand is widely regarded as one of the best in the sport, a shot that has drawn comparisons for its easy power and consistency. It has long been her most reliable weapon, the stroke she leans on even in stretches when her forehand or serve gives her trouble.

Tiafoe is no easy mark for that kind of contest, either. The two-handed American is a two-time US Open semifinalist and a fixture inside the top 20, so getting the better of him in a backhand duel is a legitimate credential rather than empty talk.

The trash talk also fits the mood Gauff has carried into Flushing Meadows. The 2023 champion arrived in New York with real momentum after capturing the title in Cincinnati, and she opened her tournament with a comfortable straight-sets win over Zeynep Sonmez. A year removed from the service struggles that shortened her run and prompted a coaching shake-up, she looks far more comfortable and free at the major where she first broke through.

For now, the backhand challenge is a fun window into a star who is clearly enjoying herself on home soil. If Gauff keeps letting the shot do the talking the way she did against Tiafoe, the rest of the draw may want to think twice before taking her up on the offer.

The post 2023 US Open champ Coco Gauff wants all the smoke on her backhand after humbling Frances Tiafoe appeared first on ClutchPoints.