Coco Gauff, the 2025 French Open champion, demonstrated her empathetic character by offering immediate support to Amanda Anisimova following the latter’s May 2023 announcement of an indefinite break from tennis due to exhaustion and mental health concerns. Anisimova, then 21, shared her decision on Instagram, citing burnout after the sudden death of her father and coach in 2019 and the relentless grind of the WTA Tour, per *The Express US*. Gauff, who had faced Anisimova in the 2017 US Open junior final (won by Anisimova) and the 2022 Wimbledon third round (6-7(4), 6-2, 6-1, won by Anisimova), responded with a string of heart emojis on Anisimova’s Instagram post, a gesture mirrored by peers like Ons Jabeur, Paula Badosa, and Madison Keys, per *The Mirror US*.[
Ahead of the 2023 US Open, Gauff elaborated on her support, saying, “I was surprised when she announced the break, but I can understand. A lot of players need to take a break but don’t,” acknowledging the courage it took for Anisimova to prioritize her well-being, per *The Express US*. This support proved significant as Anisimova returned in January 2024, ranked No. 189, and climbed to the top 10 by July 2025 after reaching the Wimbledon final, where she lost 6-0, 6-0 to Iga Swiatek on July 12, per *Sportskeeda*. Gauff, who suffered a first-round Wimbledon exit to Dayana Yastremska (7-6, 6-1), was among the first to console Anisimova post-final, posting on X, “so much to be proud of Amanda❤️❤️❤️ keep your head up 👑,” per @CocoGauff. She also congratulated Swiatek, writing, “Congratulations @iga_swiatek on an incredible run!” per @CocoGauff.
Anisimova credited peers like Gauff for empowering her comeback, saying after her semi-final upset over Aryna Sabalenka, “A lot of people told me I’d never make it back to the top… Proving you can prioritize yourself is incredibly special,” per *The Express US*. Gauff’s consistent support, from the 2023 announcement to the 2025 final, highlighted her class, with fans on X, like @nypostsports, praising her uplifting message, per.
