Coco Gauff Says Florida Upbringing Gives Her an Edge During Wimbledon 2026 Heatwave

Coco Gauff has offered a candid explanation for why she expects to cope better than many of her rivals during the ongoing London heatwave ahead of the 2026 Wimbledon Championships.

The American star, currently ranked World No. 7, is preparing for another Wimbledon campaign after a disappointing run at the Berlin Open, where she suffered a second-round defeat to former top-10 player Paula Badosa.

Speaking at a New Balance and Miu Miu event in London, Gauff pointed to her Florida upbringing as the reason she feels comfortable training and competing in the extreme temperatures.

“Playing in it (London heatwave) is not too bad because I’m from Florida,” Gauff said.

However, the two-time Grand Slam singles champion admitted that living through the heat away from the Tennis courts has been a different challenge.

“But just existing in it is rough because the air-conditioning is not in all places,” she added.

Extreme Heat Sweeps Across London

London is currently experiencing one of its hottest periods in recent years as a major heatwave continues to affect large parts of Europe. Temperatures are expected to climb as high as 37°C, leading weather authorities to issue warnings for extreme heat.

The conditions are likely to be a major talking point throughout the Wimbledon Championships, with players needing to carefully manage hydration, recovery, and physical exertion during matches and practice sessions.

For Gauff, though, years of training in Florida’s hot and humid climate could provide a natural advantage as she looks to navigate the demanding conditions.

Looking to Bounce Back at Wimbledon

Gauff enters Wimbledon hoping to improve on her disappointing performance at the 2025 Championships. Last year, the American was considered one of the favorites following her strong results earlier in the season but suffered a shock first-round exit to Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska.

The defeat was a frustrating setback for the young star, who admitted afterward that she had not performed at her best during key moments of the match.

“I feel a bit disappointed with how I showed up today. I could’ve been a bit better in those tough tiebreaker moments,” Gauff said after her loss in 2025.

Despite the disappointment, she viewed the early exit as an opportunity to reset and focus on future tournaments.

“Maybe losing here first round isn’t the worst thing in the world because I have some time to reset. But yeah, it definitely sucks,” she added.

Gauff’s best Wimbledon performances remain her fourth-round appearances in 2019, 2021, and 2024. With greater experience and confidence, she will be aiming to make a deeper run at the All England Club in 2026.