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 slammed Ron DeSantis, claiming to be one of many Floridians who 'aren't 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 while preparing for the French Open in Paris this week, the Sunshine State native had harsh words for her local government.

'We aren´t happy with the current state of our government in Florida, especially everything with the books and just the way our office operates,' Gauff said, referring to a two-year-long controversy over banning books from the state's schools that started with a bill signed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis.

She noted that it's 'a crazy time to be a Floridian, especially a black one at that.'

Reigning US Open tennis champion Coco Gauff slammed Ron DeSantis , claiming to be one of many Floridians who 'aren't happy' with the Republican governor

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

'It is definitely 'a crazy time to be a Floridian,' with the number one economy in the nation, the best state for education and parental empowerment (with no banned books), record-breaking tourism, and being the number one destination for Americans leaving other states behind,' Deputy Press Secretary Julia Friedland told DailyMail.com in a statement.

'With the leadership of Governor DeSantis, Florida is thriving.'

DeSantis backtracked on the book-banning law last month, when he signed a bill narrowing its focus. 

He blamed liberal activists for abusing the law, not the citizens whose objections to certain books account 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 outspoken,' Gauff said at the Italian Open last week. 

'So I encourage everyone to vote, and use your voice regardless of who you vote for. There´s no point in complaining (about) the political climate of the world if you don´t exercise your right to vote.'

Gauff has been speaking out on racial injustice and police brutality ever since that speech in 2020 in front of City Hall in her hometown of Delray Beach.

Without mentioning Gauff by name, a spokesperson for DeSantis slammed 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 in my generation, people think their vote doesn´t count,' Gauff said. 'We should just all just use our voices and use the power that we have.'

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Responding in an email when asked about Gauff´s comments, DeSantis´ office chose not to directly address Gauff´s concerns, and instead said the state is 'thriving.'

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

'I´ll leave who I vote to myself,' she said. 'I´m not publicly backing any candidate.'

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

In March, she unveiled refurbished courts at the public park where she played as a kid. 

And she´s been playing with the coordinates of those Pompey Park courts inscribed on the toes of her left tennis sneaker.

On the toes of her right sneaker is a quote from Gauff´s father, Corey: 'You can change the world with your racket.'

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

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

At the U.S. 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 top-earning female athlete last year with $22.7 million in prize money and endorsements, according to the sports-business outlet Sportico .

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

Then she reached her first major final at the 2022 French Open, finishing as the runner-up to Iga Swiatek.