As October draws to a close, tennis star Coco Gauff recently shared a side-splitting Halloween encounter that took place during her visit to Universal Studios’ famous “Horror Nights.” Gauff, who has been taking a much-needed break before heading to Saudi Arabia for the 2024 WTA Finals, slated from November 2 to November 9, is no stranger to celebrating Halloween in style.
**Coco Gauff’s Love for Halloween**
Gauff has a well-known passion for Halloween, and she’s become a fan favorite for her creative costumes each year. In 2023, the young tennis sensation channeled classic horror with a Freddy Krueger costume, the iconic villain from *Nightmare on Elm Street*. She also embraced the eerie season as a spooky clown, fully committing to the holiday’s frightful spirit. Her enthusiasm for Halloween isn’t new, either—back in 2022, she brought a comic book character to life by dressing as Moon Knight, a superhero known for his mysterious and haunted nature.
“I just love dressing up,” Gauff said during an interview. “Halloween’s my favorite day of the year, like bigger than my birthday, bigger than Christmas. I’m always going to dress up, you know, no matter how old I am. Most of the times I don’t even go anywhere in the costume. I just take pictures or just like, you know, chill in it, but I just love it. I think it’s, you can pretend to be your favorite character for a day.”
This infectious enthusiasm has turned Gauff into a Halloween star off the court, with fans eagerly awaiting her yearly costume choices. Even before she became a professional tennis player, her outfits were drawing attention. “I remember I was like not even professional at that point, but Tennis Channel put me in there and voted me like second or third in their best Halloween costumes, and I was like, ‘Okay, now I have to bring it every year.’”
**A Hilarious Encounter with “Megan” at Horror Nights**
This year, instead of creating her own costume, Gauff opted to celebrate Halloween by attending Universal Studios’ “Horror Nights,” a thrilling event famous for its immersive haunted houses, creepy attractions, and actors dressed as characters from iconic horror films. It was during this festive visit that Gauff experienced a hilarious and slightly eerie encounter.
She recounted the incident in a light-hearted Instagram story, where she shared a video clip of her run-in with a character dressed as “Megan,” the sinister, AI-powered doll from the 2023 horror hit, *M3GAN*. In the video, the actress portraying Megan initially welcomed Gauff with a friendly gesture, waving her over with a heart-shaped hand sign. However, as Gauff approached, the Megan character’s demeanor abruptly changed, echoing the creepy unpredictability of the character in the movie.
“Why she switch up on me like that? Like, I thought we were friends, Megan!?” Gauff jokingly captioned the video, sharing it with her followers who were quick to laugh along. The lighthearted post was accompanied by snapshots of Gauff enjoying the park, wearing a pair of jeans adorned with a skull design—perfect attire for the spooky season.
**Halloween Enthusiasm Knows No Bounds for Gauff**
For Gauff, Halloween isn’t just about donning a costume—it’s about embracing the joy and creativity of the season. Whether she’s playing dress-up as a horror villain or taking a lighter approach with fun and stylish outfits, the young athlete relishes the chance to dive into a world of fantasy. “Most of the times I don’t even go anywhere in the costume,” she said. “I just take pictures or just chill in it, but I just love it.” Her Instagram feed often reflects her devotion to Halloween, showing off past costumes and moments of her celebrating with friends.
One of Gauff’s favorite aspects of Halloween is the freedom to embody beloved or terrifying characters, if only for a short while. “It’s my time to get creative and just have fun,” she said in a previous interview. “You don’t get to do that as often when you’re busy traveling and training, so I always try to make the most of Halloween when I can.”
Even outside of costume events, Gauff’s Halloween spirit shines brightly. She’s been known to take part in spooky-themed gatherings with fellow athletes, host Halloween movie nights, and share her costume choices online with her fans. Her light-hearted and fun-loving personality makes her a perfect fit for a holiday that thrives on imagination and celebration, and she’s expressed that she plans to keep the tradition alive no matter how busy her schedule becomes.
**Looking Ahead: WTA Finals and Halloween 2024**
As Gauff prepares to head to Saudi Arabia for the WTA Finals, she has clearly been making the most of her downtime before the intense competition begins. With eight WTA Tour singles titles under her belt, she has her sights set on adding to her trophy collection in the upcoming tournament.
But even as she gears up for a high-stakes event, Gauff’s sense of humor and fun remains at the forefront—something that fans and fellow players alike admire about her. Her recent encounter at Horror Nights has only endeared her further to her audience, showing a playful side that complements her fierce on-court persona.
This latest Halloween episode is just another example of how Gauff balances the serious demands of a professional tennis career with a commitment to having fun and enjoying life to the fullest. No matter where her career takes her, it’s clear that Coco Gauff will continue to be a Halloween enthusiast, keeping fans excited to see what costumes she’ll come up with next.
As she heads into the final stretch of her 2024 season, with matches, trophies, and intense training on the horizon, there’s no doubt that Gauff’s Halloween spirit will be in full swing when October comes around again next year. For now, though, she leaves us with one funny story and a reminder: don’t trust “Megan,” even when she’s being nice!