Coco Gauff Namedrops Emma Raducanu as US Open Star Left Crying on Court
Coco Gauff, the world No. 3 and 2023 US Open champion, referenced **Emma Raducanu** while reflecting on her own emotional moment during a challenging second-round match at the **US Open 2025** on August 28, 2025, where she was seen crying on court. Gauff, who fought through tears to defeat **Donna Vekic** 7-6(5), 6-2, cited Raducanu’s perspective on handling negativity as an inspiration, saying, “I think Emma said this in an interview, like, aware of the negativity. You kind of get into that into your head with it” (Express.co.uk, August 30, 2025). The comment came as Gauff battled serving woes and pressure, drawing strength from **Simone Biles** in the stands and her own resilience to advance. This article explores Gauff’s emotional moment, her nod to Raducanu, her US Open performance, and how fans in the UK, USA, Australia, and Nigeria can follow her journey, as of 10:57 PM WAT, Saturday, August 30, 2025.
Gauff’s Emotional Moment and Raducanu Reference
During her second-round match against Vekic, Gauff struggled with her serve, hitting eight double faults, seven in the first set, and fell behind 5-4 after a break point double fault, leading to tears during a changeover (CNN, August 29, 2025). She covered her face with a towel, visibly shaking, but regrouped to win a dramatic first-set tiebreak 7-6(5) and dominate the second set 6-2 (The Guardian, August 29, 2025). In her post-match press conference, Gauff reflected on the mental toll, saying, “It was just nerves and just pressure, honestly… There’s been a lot on me this tournament, more than usual” (CNN, August 29, 2025). She then namedropped Raducanu, noting, “I think Emma said this in an interview, like, aware of the negativity. You kind of get into that into your head with it. But for me, I think I’ve been learning and have learned to just remember to stay on my path” (Express.co.uk, August 30, 2025).
Gauff’s reference to Raducanu likely drew from the Brit’s comments about handling scrutiny since her 2021 US Open win as a teenager, a pressure Gauff also faced after her 2019 Wimbledon breakthrough at age 15 (Express.co.uk, August 30, 2025). Both players, former US Open champions, share the experience of navigating fame and expectations early in their careers, making Gauff’s nod a moment of solidarity. Fans on X reacted warmly, with @TennisFanatic tweeting, “Coco mentioning Emma shows how much they get each other’s struggles. Love this respect” (August 30, 2025).
Gauff’s US Open 2025 Performance
Gauff’s win over Vekic marked her fourth straight third-round appearance at the US Open, where she has a 12-1 record since 2022 (@TheTennisLetter, August 29, 2025). Despite her serving struggles—320 double faults on the WTA Tour in 2025, the most of any player—she hit 14 winners and forced 36 unforced errors from Vekic (Tennis World USA, August 29, 2025). Her work with biomechanics specialist **Gavin MacMillan**, hired before the tournament to refine her serve, showed promise, though she admitted, “It’s been tough doing it all over… But I know for the future this is the right step forward” (CNN, August 29, 2025).
Gauff drew inspiration from **Simone Biles**, who was in the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd, saying, “If she can go on a six-inch beam and do that under all the pressure of the world, then I can hit the ball on this court” (Sky Sports, August 29, 2025). She went on to defeat **Magdalena Frech** 6-3, 6-1 in the third round on August 30, 2025, setting up a blockbuster fourth-round clash with **Naomi Osaka**, a rematch of their emotional 2019 US Open encounter where Osaka comforted a tearful Gauff (Express.co.uk, August 30, 2025). Gauff leads Osaka 3-1 head-to-head, with her most recent win at the 2020 Australian Open (Express.co.uk, August 30, 2025).
Context: Gauff and Raducanu’s Shared Struggles
Gauff’s mention of Raducanu underscores their shared experiences as young Grand Slam champions. Raducanu, who won the 2021 US Open at 18, faced her own challenges at the 2025 tournament, exiting in the third round to **Elena Rybakina** 6-1, 6-2 on August 29, 2025 (Express.co.uk, August 30, 2025). She spoke of top players targeting her, saying, “When the very top play against me, they have a point to prove” (Express.co.uk, August 30, 2025). Gauff’s reference to Raducanu’s awareness of negativity likely relates to similar comments, highlighting how both navigate external pressures and social media scrutiny. Gauff’s emotional moment echoed Raducanu’s own tearful experiences, such as her 2021 US Open final run or her 2025 Dubai match disrupted by a stalker (The Mirror US, February 22, 2025).
Fan and Media Reactions
Gauff’s emotional resilience and her nod to Raducanu sparked widespread praise. @TheTennisLetter tweeted, “Coco’s honesty about her tears and mentioning Emma’s perspective is so real. These young stars are human” (August 30, 2025). The Guardian described her match as “a public unravelling and recovery,” noting, “If I can get through two tough matches feeling how I’m feeling, I know I can get through pretty much anything” (The Guardian, August 29, 2025). Fans also celebrated her Biles-inspired comeback, with @WTAFanatic tweeting, “Coco channeling Simone Biles to win that match? Iconic” (August 29, 2025). Media outlets like CNN highlighted her growth, stating, “Gauff’s ability to reset after tears shows her mental strength” (CNN, August 29, 2025).
