According to recent reports, the U.S. Tennis Association released its 2024 Paris Olympic Games roster, in which Coco Gauff will lead the team. Gauff has continually voiced her Christian faith, noting its massive impact on her career.
“The women’s team is made up of singles world No. 2 Gauff, No. 5 Jessica Pegula, No. 11 Danielle Collins, No. 17 Emma Navarro, and doubles No. 11 Desirae Krawczyk, and will be coached by Kathy Rinaldi, the USTA’s head of women’s tennis. Gauff, Pegula, Collins and Navarro will play singles, while Gauff and Pegula, and Collins and Krawczyk, will play doubles,” according to a statement from the U.S. Tennis Association.
In 2023, at 19 years old, Gauff accomplished the notable feat of becoming the youngest American female tennis player to win the U.S. Open since Serena Williams did in 1999. Following her monumental win last year, Gauff gave glory to God, citing His role in her victory.
“I don’t pray for results. I just ask that I get the strength to give it my all. Whatever happens, happens. I’m so blessed in this life,” she stated. Gauff further explained how she has remained steadfast in her faith despite her trials. “That French Open loss was a heartbreak. I realized God puts you through trials. This makes this moment even sweeter than I could imagine,” she said.
Furthermore, Gauff took another opportunity to express her Christian faith after losing in the first round at Wimbledon. Following the loss, she stated how her relationship with God and her “church family” had helped her regain her footing where she earned a subsequent win in a Washington, D.C. tournament. “I want to thank my Father, God for this. After losing 1st round Wimbledon it was a tough situation. A lot of prayer, a lot of support from my church family. So thank you to him & those who support me,” she said.
At the conclusion of the 2023 tennis season, Gauff took to Instagram to share the highlights of the past year. After discussing the significant amount of growth she has undergone, “enough for 10 lifetimes” as she described it, Gauff explained that she trusts in God’s divine plan and timing.
“2023 season is officially over. Hard to sum of this season in a few words. I saw my darkest and brightest days of my life this year,” she wrote in the post. “I probably grew enough for 10 lifetimes between January & now lol. I usually don’t say this, but I am learning to be nicer to myself haha (I get questioned all the time by family, press, and y’all for not saying this) but yes, I AM proud of myself. I am proud of the resilience showed. They really tried to count me out, but it is all in God’s plan and His timing.”
Last year, CBN reported on Gauff praising Jesus following her win at the Master’s 1000 title at the Cincinnati Open. “This is unbelievable. Especially after what I went through in Europe earlier this summer. I’m just happy to be in this moment. I’d like to thank my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,” she said as the crowd roared with applause. “I spent a lot of nights alone, crying trying to figure it out. I still have a lot to figure out, but I thank him for covering me.”
Featured image credit: Hameltion, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Coco_Gauff_2023_DC_Open_01_cropped.jpg