Coco Gauff managed to pull off the incredible and defeat Aryna Sabalenka to win the 2023 US Open. Lifting her first Grand Slam trophy, Gauff’s 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory over the Belarusian has now made her the youngest American to win the prestigious tournament since Serena Willams in 1999. Seeing this, Shaquille O’Neal couldn’t help himself but hype up the 19-year-old. Taking to his Instagram Stories, Shaq shared a post displaying Gauff’s incredible 11-year transition.
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Despite Coco Gauff being as highly seeded as #6, the likes of Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka, Jessica Pegula, and Ons Jabeur were highly touted to emerge victorious. However, playing some of the best tennis of her young career, the Florida native shocked several naysayers. After having her back against the wall, dropping the first set in the finals, the teenager displayed immense class and poise as she went on to obliterate Sabalenka in the remaining two sets. An emotional three weeks for the youngster ends on a high as she takes home her maiden Grand Slam trophy as well as clinches a personal best WTA ranking – World No. 3.
Shaquille O’Neal shares Gauff’s inspiring 11-year transition
Over the past few days, an old video of Coco Gauff has resurfaced on social media. As seen in the Instagram post below, an eight-year-old Gauff was enjoying herself as she witnessed Serena Williams lift the 2012 US Open title. Little did Coco know, just over a decade later, that she would be lifting her first Grand Slam trophy at that very stadium.
This viral video caught Shaquille O’Neal’s attention. Like many other social media users, the Los Angeles Lakers legend couldn’t help but gush over how wholesome the clip was. Expressing his pride, Shaq congratulated Gauff for her “full circle moment” by sharing the graphic on his Instagram Story.
From celebrating her idol’s win in 2012 to lifting the same trophy 11 years later, Gauff is living every child’s dream at the moment.
Magic Johnson and Jimmy Butler congratulate Coco Gauff
Shaquille O’Neal wasn’t the only personality from the basketball world to congratulate Guaff for her historic victory. As soon as the contest reached its conclusion, Magic Johnson sent out a tweet lauding the youngster and praising her parents as well.
Jimmy Butler has been associated with the US Open even before the tournament commenced. Since Day 1, Butler has spent several hours watching some of his friends – Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev, and Gauff – play tennis. Of course, the Miami Heat Forward was not going to miss Gauff’s finals clash for the world. Like he so often does, the 2023 NBA Finalist shared several pictures of Gauff on his Instagram Stories.
This is only the first of many more Grand Slam titles to come in Coco Gauff’s way.
