Coco Gauff, the 21-year-old American and 2023 U.S. Open champion, credited gymnastics great Simone Biles with sparking the emotional lift she needed to win a gripping second-round match at the 2025 U.S. Open.
Under the bright lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium on August 28, Gauff faced Croatian Donna Vekić in a match that tested her nerves and resolve. Despite enduring seven double faults and multiple service breaks, Gauff hung on to force a first-set tiebreak and eventually sealed a 7-6 (5), 6-2 win.
Mid-match, Gauff found herself overcome with emotion. She sat with her head buried in a towel, unable to hold back tears. After the match, she reflected, “I think today I showed that I can get up after feeling the worst I’ve ever felt on the court,” adding, “It’s been a tough couple of weeks.”
Coco Gauff Inspired by a Champion
Simone Biles, a seven-time Olympic gold medalist, was in the stands — and her presence meant more to Gauff than mere celebrity support. “I saw her … she helped me pull it out,” Gauff said during her post-match interview. “If she can go on a six-inch beam with all the pressures of the world, then I can hit the ball … it brought me a little bit of calm … she’s an inspiration, surely.”
It was the resilience Biles displayed — particularly in overcoming her own mental struggles — that resonated deeply with Gauff. “Just knowing her story … with all the things she went through mentally,” Gauff said, “helped me.”
On her part, Biles expressed admiration for Gauff’s performance. “She’s incredible, amazing,” Biles said. “It’s just such a privilege to watch her on home soil and watch ‘Black girl magic.’”
Gauff’s victory advances her to the third round, where she will face Poland’s Magdalena Fręch. The match also marked Gauff’s 57th WTA-level match win on American soil since 2020—a milestone that puts her just behind top players like Pegula, Świątek, and Sabalenka.