When tennis star Coco Gauff battled Croatian pro Donna Vekic in the US Open’s second round, it was far from an easy win. The match, played on Thursday, August 28, pushed Gauff to her limits. Luckily, she found a powerful boost of inspiration right there in the crowd. Her eyes landed on none other than Olympic gymnastics legend Simone Biles.
"She really helped me get through that moment," the 21-year-old Gauff told reporters after her win. She recalled looking at Biles and thinking, "If she can get up on a six-inch beam and perform under the most intense pressure imaginable, then I can surely hit this tennis ball." It was a simple thought, but it flicked a switch for Gauff.
Earlier in the first set, Gauff had been visibly shaken. After a frustrating double fault, she even used her towel to hide a few tears. But she’s open about those raw moments. "I just want to show people that I’m human, and everyone has tough days," Gauff explained. "The real test is how you bounce back after those low points and how you keep showing up."
Seeing Biles, now 28, helped Gauff shift her perspective. Biles has openly shared her own difficult journey with mental health, especially on her way to earning seven Olympic gold medals. "Just knowing her story, with everything she went through mentally, it brought me a lot of calm," Gauff stated. "She is absolutely an inspiration."
Biles herself is a true pioneer. She’s one of only four women gymnasts to represent Team USA in three separate Olympic Games. Many will remember her courageous choice to withdraw from the individual all-around and other events at the 2020 Summer Olympics. She spoke openly about prioritizing her mental well-being. "I always say: put mental health first," Biles shared with the media back then. "If you don’t, you won’t truly enjoy your sport or find the success you hope for. It’s perfectly fine to step away from even big competitions to focus on yourself. That truly shows your strength as an athlete and a person, rather than just pushing through no matter what."
A year later, reflecting on that pivotal decision, Biles spoke with USA Today. She expressed pride in helping to bring athletes’ mental health "front and center." In a 2022 interview, she admitted, "Honestly, I didn’t grasp the full impact it would have at the time." She added, "A few months later, I understood what had happened. But it still surprises me that it wasn’t discussed as much before, and that we weren’t open, and people didn’t see it like a physical injury."
For Gauff, that inspiration from Biles allowed her to hit the "reset" button after her challenging start on Thursday. "It was a tricky moment for me out there on the court," she confessed. "It’s been a tough few weeks, both on and off the court. But I’m truly glad I powered through it today."
Gauff is now set to face Poland’s Magdalena Fręch in her next match on Saturday, August 30.