When it comes to American tennis, the first names that come to mind are the Williams sisters, Serena and Venus. Following in their footsteps is 20-year-old Coco Gauff, who has drawn massive comparisons to the Williams sisters not only due to her performances but also voicing her opinion for equality. The reigning US Open champion has also got the political roots from her grandmother, who herself has been an advocate for gender and racial equality.

Gauff’s grandmother, Yvonne Lee Odom, was the first black student at Delray Beach’s Seacrest High School. She attended the first day of the school with high security after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1954 in Brown v. Board of Education that segregated schools were unconstitutional. As Lee was good in both academics and sports, she got admitted into Seacrest High School as its first black student.

Subsequently, she went on to attain a degree in elementary education from Florida Atlantic University and a master’s in reading from Nova University. With a strong educational background, Gauff’s grandmother decided to give back to this field by becoming a teacher. She taught math at Carver Middle School and pursued this career for a living. Lee was known to be a very compassionate and caring teacher who was highly regarded by her students. Later, she and her husband founded the Delray Beach American Little League. The aim of this league was to support the black children who were short of opportunities.

Along with her educational career, Lee was also quite vocal about political subjects and speaking up against inequalities. She was one of the major reasons behind Coco Gauff actively speaking about politics.

Coco Gauff makes a political wish for her fellow countrypeople

As America goes to election later this year, Gauff addressed the current state of Government in Florida. The American tennis sensation expressed disappointment with the current political state in her native town and urged everyone to turn up in large numbers and cast their vote.

During an interview, Gauff mentioned how she echoed her grandmother’s voice while speaking about politics. Gauff said, “She’s the sole, or one of the main, reasons why I use my platform the way that I do and why I feel so comfortable speaking out. She had to deal with a lot of things, like racial injustice.”

Further, she also added, “For her to go through what she did during that time is something that I think what I do—putting out a tweet or saying a speech—is so easy compared to that.. She always reminds me that I’m a person first instead of an athlete.”

Gauff will hope that her grandmother’s fight against inequality doesn’t go to waste and this society can become a better place to live with good governance in place. Thus, she urged Americans to fulfill their responsibility by casting their vote.