Magic Johnson holds the reputation of being an uber successful multi-hyphenate. Though Johnson rose to fame as a basketball player, he shares an inclination for other sports as well. With the ongoing US Open, the attention of the five-time NBA champion has been focused on supporting the players on the court. Recently, that was Coco Gauff.
Hours after the 19-year-old performed a Serena Williams-like feat, Magic took it upon himself to send his best regards.
Magic Johnson shares his reaction on Coco Gauff creating history
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American Tennis player Coco Gauff faced off against the 27-year-old Czech, Karolína Muchová during the women’s singles semi-finals. Having defeated Muchová a month ago during the Cincinnati finals, Gauff was hoping to repeat her victory on her home ground. Despite a mid-match hiatus, she did just that.
Not only did she reach her first ever US Open Final, she became the youngest player to do so since Serena Williams in 1999.
Barely a few hours after the match concluded, Johnson took to his official X (formerly Twitter) account to share his reaction on the victory. Sending his congratulations, the Los Angeles Lakers legend remarked that “Coco is only the second American teenager to advance since Serena Williams!”
Congratulations to @CocoGauff for advancing to the US Open Finals!! Coco is only the second American teenager to advance since Serena Williams! 👏🏾
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) September 8, 2023
While the match in itself was an exciting one, no one could have anticipated the unexpected moment when a couple of climate change activists started to protest in the middle of the match. Eventually, the situation was resolved and the match resumed.
By the end, Gauff was successful in vanquishing her opponent by a 6-4, 7-5 score. If advancing to the US Open Finals wasn’t enough, Gauff also received the opportunity to share the pedestal with one of the biggest names in the sport of tennis.
Gauff awards Serena Williams the “GOAT” title
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Magic Johnson’s comparison of Serena Williams and Coco Gauff was a huge deal. Particularly given the fact that the teenager holds the tennis legend in high regards.
Post her victory, Gauff engaged in a Q and A session with ESPN. During the same, the young tennis sensation spoke about the six-time US Open winner. “Serena is Serena. She’s the GOAT” said Gauff.
Coco Gauff refuses to compare herself with Williams, stating that the latter is someone she looks up to.
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“The only regret I’ll have for the rest of my life is not being able to play her,” Gauff added during the conversation. Despite what took place in the past, Coco Gauff’s eyes are focused towards the future and she is happy to “just be a product of her (Williams) legacy.”
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