Coco Gauff just did it! The 21-year-old American tennis superstar battled her way to a thrilling victory at the 2025 French Open. She did that by taking down world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in a tough three-set final, 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-4. It was a moment of pure triumph. But instead of the conversation being all about Coco’s incredible achievement, the post-match press conference took a full 180 turn with Sabalenka’s less-than-gracious comments about the loss sparking a firestorm of criticism. That even caught the attention of some big names from the NBA world, like Draymond Green and Shaquille O’Neal’s close friend, Nishelle Turner.

So, here’s what went down: After the loss, Aryna told reporters: “(Coco) won the match not because she played incredible, just because I made all of those mistakes.” Oof. That’s a tough look. To basically say your opponent didn’t win, but that you lost, is a classic case of sour grapes.

The reaction from the sports world was swift, and it wasn’t just tennis commentators who were raising their eyebrows. Nishelle Turner, the Emmy-winning co-host of “Entertainment Tonight” and a close personal friend of NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal, had a simple but powerful reaction. She commented on a post about Sabalenka’s quote with a classic GIF of Viola Davis as Annalise Keating from “How to Get Away with Murder,” where Keating just looks utterly disappointed and walks away. For anyone who knows that GIF, it’s the universal sign for “I’m out. I can’t even with this.” 

And then there’s Draymond Green. The Golden State Warriors star, who knows a thing or two about intense competition and post-game talk, also weighed in on his Instagram story. He posted a report of Sabalenka’s comments and wrote, “Cook Coco“ followed by a bunch of laughing emojis. Now, Draymond’s a master of psychological warfare, so his comment could be read a few ways.

But it seems pretty clear he’s laughing at the absurdity of Sabalenka’s statement. It’s like he’s sarcastically saying, “Oh, you’re going to try and ‘cook Coco’ with these weak excuses after she just beat you for a Grand Slam title? Good luck with that.” It’s the kind of reaction you’d expect from a fierce competitor who respects a winner and has little time for sore losers. However, Turner and Green weren’t the only two people who reacted to Gauff’s incredible feat.

All Love for Coco: The NBA World Celebrates Gauff’s Historic Win

The NBA world was quick to show some major love for Coco Gauff’s incredible achievement. The outpouring of support from some of the biggest names in basketball showed just how much her journey and her talent have resonated far beyond just the tennis court.

Leading the charge, as he so often does, was none other than NBA royalty, LeBron James. The King’s reaction was actually sparked by another major public figure, former President Barack Obama, who tweeted his own congratulations: “Congratulations to @CocoGauff for an amazing championship at the French Open — the first American singles champion at @RolandGarros in a decade. You make us all proud.” LeBron saw that message of pride and immediately amplified it, reposting it with his own all-caps praise that showed a special, personal connection: “I SECOND THAT!!! Congratulations my fellow flag bearer @CocoGauff'”. That “fellow flag bearer” part? That’s some serious respect right there. It’s a direct reference to their shared honor of being flag bearers for Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics, a clear sign of a deep, mutual admiration between two of America’s biggest global sports icons.

And the praise wasn’t just limited to LeBron. Coco’s home region of South Florida was absolutely bursting with pride. The Miami Heat, one of LeBron’s former teams, gave her a huge shoutout on social media, celebrating her as “South Florida’s own.” The University of Miami’s Instagram account also got in on the action, posting a picture of Gauff on their sidelines from a recent football game, throwing up the iconic “U” sign as their way of congratulating her on the massive win.

Even stars from outside the basketball world, but still huge names for sports fans, couldn’t help but show their support. Dallas Cowboys superstar edge rusher Micah Parsons kept it short, sweet, and fiery, posting a simple “LFG!” on his social media – that raw, “let’s freaking go!” energy that a performance like Coco’s inspires. And former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III highlighted the incredible impact Coco has as a role model, writing, “Her determination and resilience is an inspiration to all, but especially my 4 daughters who love Tennis and watching her play. Congrats Coco, YOU LOVE TO SEE IT.”

But maybe the most powerful message came from the champion herself. Amidst all the praise, Coco Gauff took to social media with an emotional and humble post that really captured the moment. “Wow. This means so much to me truly….French open champ,” Gauff wrote. “I worked so hard for this moment and for it to have happened is insane. Thank you God. And thank you everyone. This means the world. I’m still in shock. Honestly can’t find the words but all I can say for now is just thank you and never give up on your dreams.”

At the end of the day, while Sabalenka’s comments created a bit of an unnecessary sideshow, the real story is Coco Gauff. The love and admiration from legends like LeBron James and stars across the sports world show that her hard work, her resilience, and her incredible talent are what truly shine the brightest.