Angel Reese Shows Support for Coco Gauff After French Open Champion’s Emotional Revelation
Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese recently delivered a heartfelt four-word message of support to tennis sensation Coco Gauff, who had just shared her overwhelming emotions about the massive attention she received following her stunning French Open victory. The 21-year-old American tennis star defeated world number one Aryna Sabalenka in a thrilling three-set final at Roland Garros, winning 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-4 to claim her second Grand Slam championship.
Following her remarkable triumph in Paris over the weekend, Gauff embarked on an extensive media tour in New York City, where she participated in numerous interviews and promotional events to discuss her historic achievement. During her visit to the bustling metropolis, the young champion made a special appearance at the Barclays Center to watch the reigning WNBA champions New York Liberty face off against the Chicago Sky in what proved to be an emotionally charged evening for the tennis star.
The French Open champion, who earned an impressive prize money of $2.84 million for her victory at Roland Garros, later admitted that she was completely unprepared for the overwhelming reception she received from the basketball crowd at the arena. In a candid social media video that quickly went viral, Gauff opened up about the unexpected moment that left her deeply moved and reflecting on the scope of her newfound fame and influence.
“I just finished a two-day media blitz in New York and I just got back from the Liberty game,” Gauff shared in the emotional video that resonated with thousands of her followers across various social media platforms. “They announced that I was there, and the whole arena cheered for me, which I wasn’t expecting because it’s not my sport, you know, I’m at a basketball game, and it made me realize how many people see me, which is crazy.”
The tennis prodigy continued to express her genuine surprise and gratitude, revealing how the unexpected recognition at a completely different sporting event made her acutely aware of her growing influence and the responsibility that comes with her elevated status. “I really appreciate you guys, every congratulations, every ‘we love you,’ every ‘we support you,’ every ‘I’m rooting for you’ – it really means so much to me,” she said, her voice becoming increasingly emotional as she spoke directly to her supporters.
Gauff also acknowledged the challenge of maintaining her composure during interviews and public appearances, admitting that the overwhelming support sometimes threatens to break down her professional facade. “I know that sometimes in interviews, I try to hold back my emotions and right now I’m trying to do that because I feel like I’m about to cry, but it means so much,” she confessed, providing a rare glimpse into the personal struggles that come with sudden fame and success.
WNBA star Angel Reese, who had recorded 17 points in Chicago Sky’s 85-66 loss to the Liberty that same evening, witnessed Gauff’s heartfelt message and responded with a simple yet powerful show of solidarity, commenting “WE LOVE YOU CO” on the emotional video. The newly crowned French Open champion quickly reciprocated the love, responding to Reese with an equally affectionate message: “We love you, queen.”
In addition to the emotional support from fellow athletes, Gauff also discovered an interesting and little-known rule about Grand Slam trophies during her journey home from Paris that surprised many tennis fans worldwide. The Suzanne Lenglen Cup, which has been awarded to the French Open women’s singles champion since 1979, must actually remain at Roland Garros and cannot be taken home by the winner, a tradition that many casual tennis followers were unaware of until Gauff brought attention to it.
Instead of traveling back to the United States with the actual championship trophy that she had held aloft during the victory ceremony and subsequent photo sessions, Gauff was presented with a significantly smaller replica to commemorate her historic achievement at the prestigious tournament. “This is the trophy you guys see, the trophy we use for pictures, press conferences and stuff like that,” the American explained to her TikTok followers while pointing to an image of herself holding the iconic trophy during the championship celebration.
“But we actually can’t take this home because this stays at the tournament,” she continued, educating her audience about the lesser-known protocol that governs Grand Slam trophy ownership and display. She then proudly showed off her personal keepsake to the camera, demonstrating the substantial size difference between the ceremonial trophy and the champion’s memento.
“This is the trophy we take home, and it’s like a mini replica of the trophy, so I guess for comparison it’s really small,” Gauff explained with a laugh, holding up the considerably smaller version that serves as her permanent reminder of the monumental achievement. “But it’s the memories that matter most,” she concluded, emphasizing that the significance of the victory far outweighs any physical trophy, regardless of its size or grandeur.
The revelation about the trophy protocol even caught the attention of tennis legend Andy Murray, who used the opportunity to advocate for better prizes for professional tennis players, suggesting that tournament organizers should reconsider their policies regarding championship trophies and what winners are allowed to keep as permanent mementos of their greatest achievements.