Coco Gauff's Stunning Oscars Experience and Tennis Ambitions Ahead of Indian Wells

Before heading to the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Coco Gauff made a stunning appearance at the 97th Academy Awards in Los Angeles. The 2023 US Open champion described the day as "super long" but an incredibly cool experience.

The 20-year-old tennis star shared with reporters that she began her hair and makeup at 9:30 a.m., with the event kicking off at 4 p.m. She donned a custom Miu Miu dress for the ceremony and another for the Vanity Fair after-party. Vogue recognized Gauff as one of the "best dressed stars" at the Oscars.

Gauff was pleasantly surprised by the recognition she received throughout the evening, particularly from Samuel L. Jackson. "He came up to me, I took a photo with him, he took one with me, and then introduced me to Whoopi Goldberg, which was really cool," Gauff recounted.

In addition to Jackson, Gauff also met Halle Bailey and ran into Ben Stiller, a known tennis enthusiast who frequently attends major matches. Gauff jokingly reminded Stiller to attend one of her matches instead of just the men's games.

Having reached the semifinals at Indian Wells last season, Gauff is set to begin her 2025 campaign at the tournament on Friday. She received a first-round bye and will face the winner of the match between Emma Raducanu and Moyuka Uchijima.