The atmosphere at Arthur Ashe Stadium during the US Open 2025 was thick with tension, not just for the tennis but for the emotional battle fought by American star Coco Gauff. In her second-round match against Donna Vekic, the third seed faced a near-catastrophic meltdown. Her powerful serve, usually a reliable weapon, crumbled under the pressure, leading to seven double faults in the first set and visible tears of frustration. At the brink of disaster, an unexpected beacon of inspiration shone from the stands: Simone Biles, the seven-time Olympic gymnastics champion. Gauff’s sighting of Biles—the queen of resilience who famously overcame the “twisties”—offered a profound sense of calm. This instant mental shift allowed Gauff to reset and clinch a tough 7-6(5), 6-2 victory. This wasn’t merely a win; it was a powerful, symbolic moment of “Black girl magic” where one icon’s presence provided the necessary mental fortitude for the other to conquer her inner demons.
The Quiet Meltdown: When the Weapon Fails
Coco Gauff entered the 2025 US Open with the weight of expectation on her shoulders, but the second round quickly spiralled into a psychological ordeal. While Croatian opponent Donna Vekic was a formidable challenge, Gauff’s biggest enemy was her own escalating anxiety.
The stress was palpable early on. Gauff struggled severely with her serve, recording a distressing seven double faults in the opening set alone and being broken four times. The faulty serve was a clear symptom of her frayed nerves. It had become unreliable, failing to provide the commanding start she needed. Down 4-5 and visibly shaken, Gauff buried her face in a towel during a changeover, her hands trembling in front of 20,000 spectators at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The crowd’s anticipation created a suffocating silence, expecting the worst. Gauff later confessed that she had felt “the worst I’ve ever felt on the court.” She was isolated, fighting a battle that felt impossibly lonely despite the sea of people cheering her on.
The “Black Girl Magic” Intervention on Center Court
The critical turning point of the match happened not during a spectacular rally, but during a subtle moment in a changeover. Gauff looked up at the stadium screen and saw Simone Biles being interviewed live on the ESPN broadcast. Biles, who was cheering from a suite, was already singing Gauff’s praises.
“She’s incredible, amazing, and it’s like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Biles told the camera, highlighting the privilege of watching “Black girl magic” on home soil. Though Gauff didn’t hear the exact words in real time, the sheer sight of her idol—a figure who had publicly navigated mental health crises under global scrutiny—provided an immediate, calming anchor. The sudden image of Biles, who had demonstrated extraordinary resilience by prioritizing her well-being over competition during the Tokyo Olympics, resonated deeply. This accidental intervention shifted Gauff’s perspective from self-recrimination and failure to inspiration and empowerment.
Finding Peace on the Six-Inch Beam
The thought process triggered by Biles became Gauff’s most effective psychological tactic of the night. After winning the match, Gauff, still tearful, credited the gymnast’s unexpected presence: “Honestly, I saw her, and I don’t know if she was even looking, but she helped me pull it out.”
Gauff revealed the specific thought that stabilized her performance: “I was just thinking, if she can go on a six-inch beam and do that with all the pressure of the world, then I can hit a ball [in this court].” The analogy perfectly framed her struggle. The pressure of hitting a tennis ball, no matter how intense, suddenly seemed manageable compared to maintaining balance and executing dangerous flips on a narrow piece of wood. This shift in perspective, powered by Biles’s history of mental fortitude, allowed Gauff to compartmentalize her anxiety. She took a bathroom break after winning the stressful first-set tiebreak, splashed water on her face, and returned to the court a transformed player. Her serve immediately improved—she managed to stabilize the delivery, only conceding one double fault in the second set, which she dominated 6-2.
The Unscripted Meeting of Sporting Titans
The post-match interaction was just as poignant as the inspiration during the game. Gauff’s on-court interview, where she emotionally thanked Biles, led to a spontaneous meeting between the two champions backstage at Flushing Meadows. It was a powerful fusion of two generations of American sporting excellence.
Biles, who won four gold medals and one silver at Paris 2024, immediately embraced Gauff. “Of course, I had to [come], you’ve been popping off lately!” Biles said, praising Gauff’s grace and humility. In return, Gauff seized the chance to tell her idol directly: “You’re such an inspiration. Seriously, what I said in the interview, I was thinking about that literally.” Gauff cemented Biles’s influence by declaring her place, alongside Serena Williams, on her personal “Mount Rushmore” of athletes. This meeting was more than a handshake; it was a mutual acknowledgment of the immense pressure elite athletes face, the importance of mental health, and the shared responsibility of being role models for the youth—a vivid display of the solidarity among powerful Black women in sports.
The Lesson of Autonomy and the Road Ahead
While Biles provided the emotional catalyst, Gauff’s victory was ultimately a testament to her own growth and willingness to take ownership of her career. Days before the US Open, Gauff had made the bold decision to hire biomechanics expert Gavin MacMillan to address her serving issues.
This strategic move, which Biles publicly supported, underscored Gauff’s determination, at just 21, to actively manage her professional development. Although the serve faltered in the Vekic match, the fact that Gauff found the mental resilience to implement tactical adjustments in the second set proved the investment was sound. However, Gauff’s US Open journey did not culminate in a title. In the fourth round, she encountered a resurgent Naomi Osaka and fell in straight sets, 3-6, 2-6. Despite the loss, Gauff chose not to be crushed, viewing the defeat as “a step in the right direction” and a necessary part of her development. The 2025 US Open, highlighted by the emotional Biles-inspired win and her eventual exit, served as a crucial lesson: even the world’s greatest athletes struggle with pressure, and the key to progress often lies in harnessing the silent strength and inspiration found in the journeys of those who came before them.
