Olympic Star Simone Biles' Message About Coco Gauff at US Open Speaks Volumes

Coco Gauff Pushes Through Emotional US Open Victory

Just hours earlier, Gauff fought through tears and a shaky serve to defeat Croatian Donna Vekic in the second round. The World No. 3 struggled with 16 double faults in the opening set but steadied herself to pull off a 7-6 (7-5), 6-2 win under the bright lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium.

After the match, Gauff opened up about the mental weight she has carried. 

“Honestly, today was a tough match for me. But I’m just happy with how I was able to manage. It’s been rough couple weeks,” she said before breaking down in tears.

In her victory speech, she revealed the impact of having Biles watching courtside: “I saw her and she helped me pull it out. I was thinking, ‘if she can go on a six-inch beam and do that with all the pressure of the world, then I can hit the ball in this court.’ She’s an inspiration.”

Biles on Gauff: Grace, Humility and Mental Strength

When asked what she admired most about the tennis champion, Biles didn’t hesitate.

“Her grace and humility. She is amazing on and off the court, and I think that says a lot about who she is as a person, so it’s so exciting to watch that in person,” Biles said.

The 28-year-old also reflected on the mental toughness required in individual sports, especially for young athletes navigating the pressure of being in the spotlight.

“As she gets older and matures and now she’s an adult, she gets to make decisions. That’s so important. I’m supportive 100% because I know what that’s like. To see her take ownership of her career and of the court is just amazing to watch,” Biles explained.

The mutual respect between Gauff and Biles has been years in the making. Earlier this summer, Gauff named Biles as one of her biggest inspirations outside of tennis. She praised the gymnast’s ability to push herself to new heights even without a direct rival to measure against.

“She just pushes herself and to me that’s crazy because in tennis we had Rafa, Roger and Novak all pushing each other, but in gymnastics, she doesn’t have anyone. The fact that she’s been able to move against herself is pretty cool,” Gauff said in June.

Now, seeing Biles in the stands at Flushing Meadows gave Gauff the extra push she needed to get through one of the toughest matches of her season.

Biles, who is the most decorated gymnast in history with seven Olympic medals, has also been in the spotlight recently for a different reason. Just days before showing up at the US Open, she celebrated her husband Jonathan Owens, a safety for the Chicago Bears, after he officially made the team’s 53-man roster.

For Gauff, who has already won the 2023 US Open and is chasing her third Grand Slam title, having one of the greatest Olympians in history in her corner adds fuel to her rising career. 

As Biles put it, watching Gauff grow into her own career is “just amazing.” And for Gauff, having Biles in the crowd was the reminder she needed: if Simone Biles can conquer the balance beam, then Coco Gauff can conquer the US Open.