Tennis legend Martina Navratilova has offered vocal support when two of the sport’s rising stars, Coco Gauff and Naomi Osaka, used their platforms to amplify the message of the Black Lives Matter movement during one of the most turbulent periods in recent American history.
At just 16 years old, Coco Gauff stunned the world not with a forehand winner or a serve down the T, but with her words.
Speaking powerfully at a Black Lives Matter rally in her hometown of Delray Beach, Florida, Gauff condemned racial injustice and police brutality with a maturity that belied her age.
Her impassioned plea was a galvanizing moment that underscored just how deeply the young star felt the weight of history.
Osaka, meanwhile, took a quieter but equally impactful approach at the 2020 U.S. Open, a tournament held during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and the global reckoning on race.
Osaka wore a different mask for each match, each one bearing the name of a Black victim of racial violence-Breonna Taylor, Elijah McClain, Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, and others. It was a symbolic yet piercing reminder to millions of viewers that some names should never be forgotten.
Navratilova sees power in purpose
Speaking to the Irish Times, Martina Navratilova expressed both admiration and gratitude toward the young stars, noting that while Gauff and Osaka have earned a privileged place in society through their athletic success, they have not let that privilege silence them.
“There and there, you have an example of young women of colour speaking out because they see what’s going on,” Navratilova said.
“They’re privileged because they have achieved something and they’re respected for that. But as black women, they know what their mothers and fathers had to go through. So it’s great to see them taking the bull by the horn and taking that bullhorn.”
For Navratilova, whose own life and career have been defined by pushing boundaries-both on and off the court-the actions of Gauff and Osaka were more than just commendable. They were a sign that the next generation is unafraid to carry the torch of activism.
She added that Gauff, in particular, had the potential to make a lasting difference beyond tennis.
“Coco has the ability to change the world for the better,” Navratilova said during the same period, referring to Gauff‘s eloquence, courage, and willingness to use her voice despite her youth and the pressures of professional sport.
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