Coco Gauff’s Triumph at the US Open
Coco Gauff triumphed in the third round of the US Open on Thursday, defeating Donna Vekic with a score of 7-6 (7-5), 6-2. She attributes part of her success to the motivation she drew from Olympic champion Simone Biles, who was present in the audience.
Overcoming Challenges
Gauff struggled initially, experiencing a series of seven double-faults and losing four of her six service games, which pushed her to tears as she fell behind 5-4 in the first set. However, she managed to regain her composure, ultimately clinching the set and the match.
Inspiration from Simone Biles
In a moment of revelation, Gauff noticed Biles in the stands while the gymnast was being interviewed by ESPN.
“I saw her and honestly I don’t know if she’s up there. But she helped me pull it out. I was just thinking if she can go on a six-inch beam and do that with all the pressures in the world, then I can hit the ball… It brought me a little bit of calm.”
Gauff, the 2023 US Open champion, expressed deep gratitude for Biles, highlighting her as a source of inspiration.
A Heartwarming Exchange
Following her victory, the two athletes shared a special moment, with Gauff thanking Biles for attending the match. In a heartwarming exchange, Gauff even set up a FaceTime call for Biles to greet her mother, capturing a screenshot of the memorable encounter. Biles, celebrating Gauff’s resilience, mentioned during her own interview that the young tennis star was the reason she returned to the US Open this year after attending for the first time last year.
Looking Ahead
With this latest win, Gauff, who is seeded No. 3 in the tournament, is set to face No. 28-seed Magdalena Frech in the fourth round on Saturday, continuing her quest for victory at this prestigious event.
