Tennis phenomenon Coco Gauff has revealed her biggest inspiration that drove her all the way to No. 1 at the French Open: becoming the first American to win the tournament since Serena Williams in 2015.
After her big win, the 21-year-old also spoke about feeling motivated on the court thanks to disappointment following President Donald Trump’s 2024 reelection.
“I remember after the election and everything, it kind of felt like a down period,” she shared, according to a June 7 article in The Daily Mail. "My mom told me during Riyadh [the WTA Finals in November, which Gauff won], ‘Try to win the tournament to give something for people to smile for.’ So that's what I was thinking about today when holding the trophy.”
The athlete continued, "And seeing the flags in the crowd means a lot. Some people may feel some type of way about being patriotic, but I'm definitely patriotic and proud to be American. I'm proud to represent the Americans that look like me and people who kind of support the things that I support.”
Gauff is a powerhouse with a racket, and she’s not shy off the court, either. After Trump's reelection, she posted on X (formerly Twitter): “Allow yourself to feel how you feel during tough times... especially today. Just lean on God with your concerns. He is the highest power. Remember that.”
No. 2-seeded Gauff took home her historic French Open win after beating Belarusian icon Aryna Sabalenka.