Coco Gauff has received support from fans and celebrities alike following her impressive run at the US Open.
Among those cheering her on was actress Issa Rae, who shared an excited reaction with the tennis star after her quarterfinal victory. The two met backstage after the win, and the moment has since gone viral online.
Actress Issa Rae met up with Coco Gauff following the tennis star’s comeback win over Mirra Andreeva in the US Open quarterfinals, and it was an emotional moment for the duo.
As Gauff made her way into the section where Rae was waiting, the two shared a warm hug. Rae immediately revealed how tense she had felt throughout the match.
“You had our hearts beating,” Rae told Gauff, to which the tennis star replied, “I know, me too.”
Rae then followed up with more compliments, telling Gauff she was “so happy” the tennis star had emerged as the winner of the tense matchup.
Coco Gauff Says She Couldn’t Lose In Front Of Issa Rae
During their conversation, Gauff revealed that spotting Rae in the stands motivated her to push for the win.
“I saw you in the stands,” Gauff told the actress. “And I was like, ‘I can’t lose in front of Issa.’”
In the quarterfinals, Gauff produced a stunning comeback against Mirra Andreeva, recovering from a first-set loss to secure a 2-6, 7-6, 6-2 victory. The win set up a semifinal clash with newly crowned World No. 1 Elena Rybakina on September 10.
Coco Gauff’s US Open Run Ends Against Elena Rybakina
Unfortunately for Gauff, her run ended with a loss to Rybakina at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Thursday.
In a press conference after the match, Gauff shared what she thought had turned the match in her opponent’s favor.
“She played really well. I thought it was a good match and honestly, it came down to like a couple service games of mine in both sets, and I didn’t quite hold,” Gauff said.
She also said she intended to review the match to see how she could improve her game against Rybakina, who had also beaten her in their previous meeting before the semifinal matchup.
“I have to look back and see what happens,” added the tennis star. “But um, she does a great job of just being there every point and putting a lot of pressure on you on service games and return games.”
Coco Gauff Says Fans Carried Her Through US Open Semifinal
Despite the loss, Gauff received plenty of support from fans as she battled Rybakina in the semifinal.
When asked how she felt about receiving that support, the tennis star said she was very grateful.
“It means a lot. They definitely carry me through a lot of these matches here, and I can feel the love all the way down to the last point,” she said.
She described the experience as “rare” and said she would always cherish it as she continues to compete in tennis.
Fans Rally Around Coco Gauff After US Open Semifinal Loss
Fan support continued beyond the court, with many expecting Gauff to compete at the highest level for years to come.
“For sure, an exceptional run. May she close the season out well. Also, Coco gets better every season, so it will be cool to see how her game evolves next season,” one fan wrote.
“You are great; hold your head up. You will come back strong. Much love to you, excellent,” another fan said.
“No need for tears… you’ve had an awesome run, CoCo !!! Congrats,” one more fan wrote.
