Coco Gauff takes aim at Ron DeSantis as she urges young voters to turn out and claims Floridians ‘aren’t happy’ with the current governor

Reigning US Open champion Coco Gauff has criticized Ron DeSantis, claiming he is one of many Floridians who are ‘not happy’ with the Republican governor.

Tennis star Gauff, 20, has been known to speak out for liberal causes, including a speech in favor of Black Lives Matter at the age of 16.

But as she prepared for the French Open in Paris this week, the Sunshine State native had harsh words for her local government.

“We are not happy with the current state of our government in Florida, especially everything related to the books and the way our office operates,” Gauff said, referring to a two-year controversy over banning books from the state’s schools that began with a bill signed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis.

She noted that it’s “a crazy time to be a Floridian, especially if you’re Black.”

Without mentioning Gauff by name, a spokesperson for DeSantis denounced her comments.

“It’s definitely ‘a crazy time to be Florida,’ with the nation’s number one economy, the best state for education and parental empowerment (without banned books), record-breaking tourism and the number one destination for Americans leaving other states behind itself,” Deputy Press Secretary Julia Friedland said in a statement to DailyMail.com.

“Under Governor DeSantis’ leadership, Florida is thriving.”

DeSantis backtracked on the book ban law last month, when he signed a bill that narrowed its focus.

He blamed liberal activists for abusing the law, not citizens whose objections to certain books are responsible for the majority of book removals from school libraries and classrooms.

“At the end of the day, it comes down to the youth and the community being open,” Gauff said at the Italian Open last week.

“So I encourage everyone to vote and use your voice, no matter who you vote for. There is no point in complaining about the political climate in the world if you are not exercising your right to vote.”

Gauff has been speaking out about racial injustice and police brutality since that 2020 speech at city hall in her hometown of Delray Beach.

Without mentioning Gauff by name, a spokesperson for DeSantis denounced her comments

Gauff has been known to speak out for liberal causes, including a speech in favor of Black Lives Matter at the age of 16

“I feel like sometimes people of my generation think their vote doesn’t count,” Gauff said. “We all just have to use our voices and use the power that we have.”

In response to an email when asked about Gauff’s comments, DeSantis’ office chose not to address Gauff’s concerns directly, saying instead that the state is “thriving.”

Gauff is not campaigning for anyone in particular in the general election.

“It’s up to me who I vote for,” she said. “I don’t publicly support any candidate.”

Still, Gauff remains a public figure in the Delray Beach community.

In March, she unveiled renovated courts at the public park where she played as a child.

And she’s been playing with the coordinates of those Pompey Park courts engraved on the toe of her left tennis sneaker.

On the toe of her right sneaker is a quote from Gauff’s father, Corey: “You can change the world with your racket.”

DeSantis returned to the law last month, when he signed a bill that narrowed its focus. He blamed liberal activists for abusing the law, not citizens whose objections to certain books are responsible for the majority of book removals from school libraries and classrooms.

Gauff is not campaigning for anyone in particular in the general election

At the US Open in September, Gauff became the first American teenager to win the country’s biggest tennis tournament since Serena Williams in 1999.

Helped by her title in New York, Gauff became the world’s highest-earning female athlete last year with $22.7 million in prize money and endorsements, according to sports retailer Sportico.

She had burst onto the scene at 15 by becoming the youngest qualifier in Wimbledon history and then reaching the fourth round on her Grand Slam debut in 2019.

She then reached her first major final at the 2022 French Open, finishing second behind Iga Swiatek.