At the 2022 French Open, Coco Gauff wasn’t just focused on the game. After she beat Martina Trevisan and advanced to her first-ever Grand Slam final, she followed a Roland-Garros tradition to send a message to everyone who had just witnessed her special moment. On the lens of the courtside camera, she wrote, “Peace. End gun violence. Coco.”
Gauff later told The Guardian that her move was father-approved, as her parents have always encouraged her to use her platform to make a positive impact. “You know, I don’t think I’m going to change the world. I’m not delusional, but I think it could change some people in the world,” she said. One of tennis’ biggest icons, Billie Jean King, joined Coco’s father in applauding her decision. “I love the fact that Coco uses tennis as a platform for social change and to help others,” King said.
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While a desire to stop gun violence might seem like a no-brainer, it’s still, sadly, a message about one of the topics that can make someone a target of hate in today’s super-charged political climate. However, Gauff says that she’s not afraid to speak out about the causes she’s passionate about. In 2022, she also shared her disapproval of the Florida law that’s often referred to as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. “I couldn’t imagine not being able to talk about your identity,” she told reporters, per Reuters. “I feel that’s something that is normal.”
