Got to respect Coco Gauff. The young tennis star continues to shine on one of tennis’ biggest stages, and at this year’s US Open she revealed that gymnastics icon Simone Biles was the motivation that carried her through a challenging match. On Thursday, August 28, the Georgia native battled past Donna Vekić in straight sets, 7-6(5), 6-2, to advance to the third round.
The world No. 3 admitted that the first set tested her emotions and left her in tears as the pressure mounted. After securing the win, Gauff spoke about how much it meant to see Biles in the stands and gave her credit for helping her stay locked in. “She helped me pull it out. I was just thinking if she can go on a six-inch beam and do that under all the pressure of the world, then I can hit the ball on [this court],” Gauff said.
She explained that reflecting on Biles’ personal journey was what gave her the push she needed. “It brought me a little bit of calm, just knowing her story with all the things she went through mentally, so she’s an inspiration surely and her presence definitely did help me today,” Gauff added. The emotional moment was capped by cameras catching Biles in the crowd, smiling and yelling back, “Love you!”
Biles’ support was especially powerful given her own history of perseverance. At the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, she made headlines for stepping away from multiple events to focus on her mental health, a decision that helped redefine how athletes everywhere prioritize their well-being.
For Gauff, this tournament feels like a turning point in her game. She currently leads the WTA Tour with 320 double faults this season, but she told reporters she is confident the work she’s putting in will pay off. “It’s been tough doing it all over and kind of refactoring everything, a motion that I knew very well,” she said, according to CNN. “But I know for the future this is the right step forward, and this is the biggest test of them all. It will only get easier from here.”