Following her French Open triumph, Coco Gauff expressed her desire for her victory to inspire hope among “Americans that look like me.”
Gauff claimed her first Roland Garros title on Saturday, defeating world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in a gripping three-set final.
The 21-year-old, who now holds two Grand Slam titles, stated her aim is to provide “hope and light” to Black Americans.
Speaking about the significance of her win, Gauff said, “It means a lot, and obviously there`s a lot going on in our country right now.” She added that she was proud “to be a representation of that and a representation of, I guess, people that look like me in America who maybe don`t feel as supported during this time period, and so just being that reflection of hope and light for those people.”
Gauff`s next scheduled tournament is the Berlin Open, starting the week after next, as part of her Wimbledon preparations.
However, she indicated she hadn`t fully planned her immediate future. “I haven`t thought that far ahead,” she stated, confirming she would take days off. While currently entered for Berlin, she added, “We`ll see if I play or not.” Gauff explained that this short part of the season is new to her, and she will consult her team to decide the best approach. “For sure I`m going to rest and enjoy it,” she emphasized, adding that she won`t rush back into training because such moments should be savored.
