has slammed the double standards she faces in tennis.
The world No. 3 has often used criticism to her advantage, famously thanking the people who "didn't believe in her" when she won her maiden Grand Slam title last year.
But Gauff still believes she faces extra scrutiny compared to her rivals, claiming she got "crucified" while others were celebrated.
Gauff is in action at this week's WTA Finals in Riyadh. It's the American's third appearance at the season-ending championships and she got off to a successful start, beating Jessica Pegula 6-3 6-2 in her first group stage match.
The 20-year-old is hoping to finish 2024 on a high after a relatively disappointing summer. For many players, a second-week run at the US Open would be a positive but for 2023 champion Gauff it was an underachievement and her serving yips quickly became a talking point.
She hit 19 double faults during her US Open loss and her serve all but abandoned her against in Wuhan. It became a new part of her game to pick holes in, after years of debate over Gauff's forehand technique.
But the eight-time title winner unfortunately is no stranger to scrutiny. She burst onto the scene aged 15 when she beat Venus Williams as a qualifier at Wimbledon. Since then, critics have always had something to say.
"I honestly think maybe just because of how I entered the scene - people are very critical of me. I take it as a compliment," Gauff told .
"Maybe they're critical about people that they feel like can do better, so I just try to be better."
While Gauff often takes the criticism in her stride, she claimed there were often double standards. The American added: "I feel like, just certain comments, I guess maybe another player would maybe do the same result as me and I get crucified for it and they get applauded.
"So it's tough sometimes. And sometimes I do want to clap back, but I just try to remember, when I win, I'll be like, that's going to be my clap back. So I do see it. It does motivate me."
Gauff's 2023 US Open victory was the ultimate clap back to her critics. So much so that the world No. 3 thanked the doubters for motivating her to lift her maiden Grand Slam title.
After sealing US Open glory aged 19, Gauff told the crowd: "Thank you to the people who didn't believe in me.
"Like a month ago, I won a 500 title and people said I would stop at that. Two weeks ago, I won a 1000 title and people were saying that was the biggest I was going to get. So three weeks later, I'm here with this trophy right now.
"I tried my best to carry this with grace and I've been doing my best. So honestly, to those who thought [they] were putting water on my fire, you're really adding gas to it. And now I'm really burning so bright right now."
