Coco Gauff Poised to Join Black American Women’s Tennis Icons with U.S. Open Title Match Victory

Coco Gauff, the 19-year-old Florida native, is set to make history in the U.S. Open women’s title match on Saturday. If she pulls off the upset win at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing Meadows, New York City, she’ll join other Black American women’s tennis icons like Serena Williams, Venus Williams and Althea Gibson.

Gauff was asked during a post-match press conference to share her thoughts on the climate change protest that disrupted her semifinal match against Karolína Muchová on Thursday night. She told reporters that she thought the demonstration was an example of the many “defining moments” of protest throughout history.

“I believe in climate change,” she said. “I know the tournaments are doing things to do better for the environment.”

The U.S. Open has seen a number of Black American women’s tennis champions over the years. Venus Williams won the U.S. Open in 2001 and 2002 while Serena took the championships of 1999, 2002, 2008, 2012, 2013 and 2014. Althea Gibson won the U.S. National Championship women’s singles titles in 1957 and 1958, a forerunner of the U.S. Open.

Gauff is now hoping to be the latest Black American woman to leave a history-making mark on the most sacred grounds of U.S. tennis. She’ll face the U.S. Open’s No. 2 seed, and soon-to-be world No. 1, Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus Saturday afternoon in this Grand Slam season’s last women’s title match.