As the clay courts of Roland Garros pulse with the intensity of the 2025 French Open, Coco Gauff, the 21-year-old American tennis sensation, has once again proven she’s a force both on and off the court. Amid her commanding performance in Paris, Gauff took a moment to honor the start of Pride Month with a heartfelt message of allyship, showcasing her commitment to advocacy as she continues her quest for a second Grand Slam title. Her ability to balance athletic dominance with social consciousness has solidified her as a role model for athletes everywhere.
Gauff’s journey through the French Open has been nothing short of remarkable. Entering the tournament as the No. 2 seed, she carried the momentum of back-to-back finals appearances in Madrid and Rome, where she faced tough competition but fell just short to Aryna Sabalenka and Jasmine Paolini, respectively. These performances propelled her to a career-high-equaling World No. 2 ranking, underscoring her growing prowess on clay. At Roland Garros, Gauff has been unstoppable, storming into the fourth round without dropping a set. Her third-round victory over Marie Bouzková, a 6-1, 7-6 (3) triumph, highlighted her resilience. Despite trailing 5-3 in the second set, Gauff’s relentless court coverage and composure forced a tiebreak, which she won decisively, cementing her place in Week 2 of the tournament.
Off the court, Gauff’s voice resonates just as powerfully. As June ushered in Pride Month, a global celebration of the LGBTQ+ community’s history, culture, and resilience, Gauff took to social media to share a poignant message: “happy pride month ❤️ i’m always proud to be an ally ! everyone deserves to be celebrated, seen, and treated fairly 🫂.” This statement, shared just hours after her match against Bouzková, reflects her unwavering commitment to inclusivity. It’s not the first time Gauff has used her platform to champion human rights. At just 18, she was moved by a fan’s rainbow-colored sign during a 2022 match against Naomi Osaka in San Jose, which read, “Thanks for being you.” She later called it “probably the best sign I’ve ever seen,” a moment that underscored her early dedication to allyship. Her advocacy also extends to other issues, such as racial justice, as seen in her powerful speech following George Floyd’s murder in 2020.
Gauff’s Pride Month message comes at a time when her influence as a young athlete is undeniable. Her ability to weave social advocacy into her grueling tournament schedule highlights her maturity and perspective. “I do think that women’s matches are worthy of a night spot,” she said earlier in the tournament, addressing the French Open’s scheduling disparities, where women’s matches have been disproportionately assigned to less prominent time slots. Since 2022, only two women’s matches have been featured in the tournament’s night sessions, a point Gauff and fellow player Ons Jabeur have publicly criticized. Gauff’s call for equity in scheduling reflects her broader commitment to fairness, a theme that echoes in her Pride Month message.
On the court, Gauff’s performance continues to draw comparisons to tennis legends. Her latest win over Bouzková marked her fifth consecutive year reaching the French Open’s fourth round, a feat that places her alongside Venus Williams in the history books as one of the youngest players to achieve such consistency at Roland Garros. Her match against Bouzková was a testament to her tenacity. After a dominant first set that took just 30 minutes, the second set stretched into a 75-minute battle, with Gauff overcoming a shaky serve and windy conditions to secure the victory. “I felt I had to generate the pace most points. It wasn’t easy,” she admitted, acknowledging Bouzková’s challenging, low-pace style.
As Gauff prepares for her Round of 16 clash against Ekaterina Alexandrova, scheduled for 5:00 a.m. ET on Monday, her focus remains sharp. With a 6-2, 6-4 win over Tereza Valentova in the second round and a history of 12 victories in 13 matches against younger opponents, Gauff’s confidence is palpable. Her father, Corey, noted the need for improvement in her serve, saying, “She’s definitely got to serve better and do a better job of holding as the tournament progresses.” Yet, her ability to break serve consistently—evident in the 10 service breaks exchanged with Valentova—has been a key weapon.
Gauff’s journey at the French Open is about more than just tennis. It’s about using her platform to uplift others, whether through her play or her words. Her Pride Month message, delivered with grace and sincerity, reminds fans that she’s not just chasing titles but also championing a world where everyone is celebrated. As she continues her campaign in Paris, Gauff’s blend of athletic brilliance and social advocacy makes her a standout figure, inspiring a new generation of athletes to compete with purpose.
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