As Coco Gauff battled nerves and mechanical chaos in her recent US Open match, another champion offered more than just applause-Olympic legend Simone Biles delivered a moment of pure emotional clarity that changed everything.
After a few tearful moments, and a well-timed bathroom break, Gauff steadied herself and prevailed in a gritty 7-6(5), 6-2 win over Donna Vekic.
Gauff’s tears were visible midway through her second-round match-a reminder that top athletes can get rattled too. But Biles, sitting courtside, embodied resilience, reminding Gauff of her own capacity to overcome her struggles.
“She helped me pull it out,” Gauff said, her voice shaking with emotion. “It brought me a little bit of calm just knowing her story with all the things she went through mentally.”
Athletic empathy a game-changer
Simone Biles wasn’t just a spectator-she represented a shared struggle and triumph that transcended sports. With her own history of confronting mental blocks and public pressure, Biles’ presence offered quiet reassurance.
“Of course, I had to [come], you’ve been popping off lately! Gymnastics is so different. I just wanted to scream ‘Go Coco!’ But then they were like ‘maybe not right now’…” Biles told Gauff afterward.
She added that seeing Gauff play on home soil was “a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” and hailed it as “just such a privilege to watch ‘Black girl magic.'”
That encouragement planted a seed of composure during a match defined by serving woes and self-doubt. Though this wasn’t Gauff’s first Grand Slam-she added a second major title at the French Open earlier this summer-her path to victory this year hasn’t been smooth.
She shook up her team just before the US Open, firing coach Matt Daly and bringing in biomechanics expert Gavin MacMillan to fix persistent serve issues.
Under the glare of Arthur Ashe Stadium, Gauff committed double-digit double faults, unforced errors piled up, and every swing carried weight from expectations built over two Grand Slam triumphs.
Still, even after a shaky opening set and emotional breakdowns, she reset her mental state-thanks in part to Biles’ unspoken support-and powered through toward victory.
Gauff shows her raw human side
In true resilient fashion, Gauff reflected: “I just show people what it’s like to be a human, and I have bad days, but I think it’s more about how you get up after those bad moments.
“I think today I showed that I can get up after feeling the worst I’ve ever felt on the court.”
Simone Biles didn’t just watch-she inspired. Her journey through mental health hurdles, Olympic injury recovery, and public scrutiny gave Gauff permission to feel instead of falter. For Gauff, absorbing Biles’ faith in her stability was enough to shift gears.
Now bound for Round 3, Gauff is riding a wave of positivity and is anchored by the kind of courage that comes from shared vulnerability.
Emotion may be human, but resilience-that’s champion. And for Coco Gauff, Simone Biles is living proof.
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