Coco Gauff smacks back at the media questioning Aryna Sabalenka's motives

Coco Gauff might just be 20 years old but she seems to have a decades-old wisdom. She appears to understand when people need to be left alone and when to celebrate winning. She plays with a poise of a 30-year-old, but the energy of a, well...someone who is 20. But she seems to know some things are bigger than tennis as well.

Aryna Sabalenka learned of the passing of her ex-boyfriend, Konstantin Koltsov, just days before the start of the Miami Open. Instead of withdrawing from the event, Sabalenka chose to play. That is her right. Yet some members of the media keep asking questions about why she is participating.

Even fellow players are being asked about Sabalenka. It is almost as if some media members want to drum up some kind of drama and have a player speak badly about Sabalenka for some reason. Maybe that sells copy, but it's certainly not the correct human thing to do. If Sabalenka is mourning, let her mourn. But most tennis fans just want to watch her play the sport.

Coco Gauff gives the perfect answer about Aryna Sabalenka playing at the Miami Open

Coco Gauff was one of the players asked about the Belarusian playing in Miami. Gauff is the WTA No. 3 and Sabalenka is No. 2. But there is clearly no bitter rivalry between the two players, both of whom play with a high level of class. Maybe a question from the media was meant to bait Gauff into misspeaking after she won her first match in Miami. Gauff was not going to allow that to happen.

When asked about Sabalenka's participation in the event, Gauff said, "I don't have any thoughts on it. I offered her my condolences through a text message and I don't think people should dig into whether or why she's playing. I think it's totally her process and I feel like we should just leave it at that."

Perfectly succinct answer and the right view. Plus, Gauff understands that how she feels about the Belarusian playing is not important. The focus should be on Sabalenka and how well she plays. After all, the media is at the Miami Open to cover a tennis tournament, not create some personal drama.

Read more from Lob and Smash