The victory of Coco Gauff at the US Open attracted the attention of not only one, but two American presidents.
On Saturday, Gauff became the youngest American to win the tournament in more than two decades – since Serena Williams won in 1999 – and President Joe Biden and Barack Obama congratulated the tennis star on his victory.
President Biden, 80, shared a message of support for a young athlete on X (formerly known as Twitter).
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“Congratulations to US Open winner @CocoGauff,” he wrote. “You electrified Arthur Ashe Stadium and the entire nation – the first of many to come and proof that anything is possible if you never give up and always believe.”
“You have made America so proud,” he concluded.
Barack (62) also had kind words for Gauff, which he shared on Instagram.
“Congratulations to the US Open winner, @CocoGauff!” he wrote. “We couldn’t be more proud of you on and off the field – and we know the best is yet to come.”
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The former president shared his message alongside a photo he took of the tennis star at a tournament with wife Michelle Obama, as well as the champion’s parents, Candi and Corey Gauff.
The former first lady, 59, also shared a group photo on Instagram, captioning it: “So proud of you @CocoGauff! Your effort and courage were visible during this tournament. This is your moment!”
After her post-victory press conference on Saturday, Gauff reacted to the support she received from Obama and other celebrities who openly cheered for her during the tournament.
“The support I have received is incredible. Obviously, from President Obama and former first lady Michelle, she’s crazy,” she told reporters, noting that the former first couple attended her first-round match and that she’s “a different person now.”
Gauff went on to say that she “saw almost every celebrity they put on that screen.”
“I’ve been looking at it all night — or all week, two weeks, I’ve been looking at it from the first round until now,” she continued. “I’ve actually met some of these people before. I saw that Madelyn Cline was here. I did a little shoot with her. I was like, ‘Oh, that’s cool.'”
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She continued: “I hugged everyone. It doesn’t make me more nervous.”
“Honestly, it helps me not think about the match,” she said, adding that when the stars are in the crowd, she thinks, “Okay, I’ve got to win in front of these people.”
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Although Gauff said she noticed members of the U.S. Secret Service during the first-round match, she did not know the Obamas were present.
After securing victory over Laura Siegemund, Gauff told reporters that she initially thought either President Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden or President Bill Clinton were present, not Obama.
Coco Gauff after winning the US Open.
Team Clayton/Corbis via Getty
– I did not see them in the presidential box – said Gauff. “Obviously I was looking at it, but they weren’t in my eye, I guess.”
Coco Gauff says she called her boyfriend to ease her nerves the night before she won the 2023 US Open.
After the former first lady gave a surprise speech after a heated match, Gauff learned that Michelle wanted to meet her – and was shocked when Barack joined her.
“Then Mr. Obama was there in the room, too. I said, ‘Oh, my God,'” Gauff told reporters. “I didn’t absorb it because I literally just walked in here. I don’t think I’ll ever forget that moment for the rest of my life.”
“I went from really upset after winning to really happy,” she continued. “That’s why I’m glad to have met them. They also gave me good advice.”
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Source: HIS Education