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After Track and Field Star, Lindsey Vonn Extends Heartfelt Congratulations to Coco Gauff Following US Open Victory

Published 09/11/2023, 9:33 AM EDT

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Coco Gauff recently won her first grand slam and lifted the US Open trophy in style! The young tennis sensation is making headlines all over the world, however, the reasons aren’t just limited to her triumph. Coco Gauff bagged the prestigious cup at the young age of 19. While she powerfully volleyed the shots of Sabalenka on the court, she gracefully handled her interviews off the court.

America’s new favorite and World Number three won the hearts of tennis fans and veterans from all sports alike with her conduct and humility. Her words before heading into the finals and her words after emerging victorious pleased everyone left, right, and center. In fact, the budding and shining racquet wielder also earned the praise and respect of skiing legend Lindsey Vonn.

Lindsey Vonn gets impressed by Gauff’s words

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Gauff worked hard for victory and beat World Number One Aryna Sabalenka. The Belarusian tennis star entered the tournament as the number two seed and laid waste to all her opponents. Despite this, her fierce striking power fell short of the young American’s emerging talent. The Serena Williams fan entered the finals by paying homage to her idol and did it again after her win. However, Coco Gauff stood out with her words from the large crowd of players who admire Serena Williams.

Gauff’s words filled every American with emotion, pride, and respect, including Olympic gold medalist and skiing legend Lindsey Vonn. The former professional skier took to social media to appreciate Gauff for her grounded nature and humble answers. Lindsey Vonn posted a tweet on X (formerly Twitter) in reply to a tweet by The Tennis Letter. The Tennis Letter had posted a clipping from an interview that was held after Gauff’s win.

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Responding to a question about Serena and Venus Williams, Gauff said, “They’re the reason why I have this trophy today. They’ve allowed me to believe in this dream. Growing up, there weren’t too many black tennis players dominating the sport. It was just them at the time that I can remember, & obviously more came because of their legacy.” 

Gauff claimed if the sisters had not fought hard both on and off the court, she wouldn’t have played tennis. Vonn admired Gauff and said, “Respect. This is such a great example of how it’s done.” In fact, Coco Gauff also raked huge praise and support from another retired legend.

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Allyson Felix compares Coco Gauff with Serena Williams

Track and field goliath Allyson Felix congratulated Coco Gauff for her win but praised her for her strong words. Before entering the finals, Gauff said that she could never compare herself to Serena Williams. However, she said that she was happy to be a part of her legacy. While Gauff kept a level head about everything, Felix went ahead and compared her with Serena Williams.

The former sprinter made full use of her authority as a GOAT to compare a youngster with another GOAT. Felix uploaded a story on Instagram and said, “A product of @serenawilliams legacy. That part! The ultimate compliment and respect. Absolutely love to see it.” Coco Gauff rose in world rankings by three spots and climbed from rank six to three after her win. The final showdown saw Gauff reigning over Sabalenka with 2-6, 6-3, and 6-2 match outcomes.

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Gauff had stated that she regrets not being able to ever play against the evergreen number one Serena Williams. However, she has already started her journey to stand on the same stage as her idol someday.

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Written by:

Ankit Singh

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Ankit Singh is a pro writer for US Sports at Essentially Sports. This surfing enthusiast has kept his watchful eye on all things Kelly Slater. With his prior experience as a senior writer for popular blogs in the country, Ankit brings his attention to detail to the nuances of every turn, snap, 360, and alley-oop on the surfboard.
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Edited by:

Brandon Gabriel