Coco Gauff. All of 15 years of age in 2019. Competing in her first Grand Slam main draw match against none other than tennis legend Venus Williams. What’s more? It’s at Wimbledon. Who would’ve thought at the end of that night, she would be the one still standing, the one who overcame one of her idols in straight sets? That was the moment she established herself in the sport. Four years on from that marvelous feat, Gauff has quite literally etched her name in history, right alongside the Williams sisters—Venus and Serena. Isn’t that poetic?

Tennis wouldn’t be where it is without everything Venus and Serena Williams have done for the sport. Apart from giving the tennis community a rivalry for the ages, they defied the odds to achieve the success they did. What they’ve done for players like Gauff in tennis, Lewis Hamilton is doing for young talent in motorsport, especially with initiatives like the Hamilton Commission. With the same underlying belief—to promote and celebrate diversity in sport—Hamilton celebrated Coco Gauff as she made history.

Lewis Hamilton showed his support for Coco Gauff as she defied the odds

Under the lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium—where Billie Jean King’s words “Pressure is a privilege” ring true—Gauff made history last night. As a 19-year-old in her first Grand Slam final, she went up against the new No. 1 player in the world, Aryna Sabalenka. As an American, with all the pressure to perform in front of her home crowd, Gauff came back from a set down to seal the US Open title. In her post-match press conference, Gauff expressed how she couldn’t have done it without Venus or Serena.

In what used to be a predominantly White sport meant for only the “privileged,” the Williams sisters—who came from an underprivileged background—were among the first African-American women to reach the level of success they did. When asked what it’s like to see her name on the trophy alongside them, Gauff said, “[Serena and Venus are] the reason why I have this trophy today, to be honest. They’ve allowed me to believe in this dream. Growing up, there weren’t too many Black tennis players dominating the sport. It was literally just them that I can remember. And obviously, more came because of their legacy.” 

Every player dreams of winning a Grand Slam tournament, and there’s nothing sweeter than doing it on home turf. Coco posted a picture with the trophy on Twitter and a carousel on Instagram, writing, “Concrete jungle where dreams are made of…… @usopen.” To show their support, Hamilton reposted her post on Twitter, and Serena reposted it on her Instagram story, writing, “Ahhhhhhhhhhh!!!! Amazing!!!!!!!” As much as sportspeople like Hamilton and the Williams sisters have fought for diversity, the Williams sisters, Gauff, and every other woman in tennis have had to fight for something as important.

Read More: Lewis Hamilton Joins Maria Sakkari & Coco Gauff to Support Giannis Antetokounmpo After He Lashed Out at Reporter Over “Failure” Jibe

The 2023 US Open celebrated 50 years of equality

To think that men and women play the same sport and aren’t paid equally might sound absurd now, but that is how it’s always been. But with the efforts of tennis legend Billie Jean King and influential women in sports all around, 83% of sports now reward men and women the same prize money. In a 1973 exhibition match called the “Battle of the Sexes,” King went up against Bobby Riggs and beat him in straight sets. That match helped demonstrate that women could compete at a high level and challenged traditional gender stereotypes. As a result, the 1973 US Open was the first Major to offer equal prize money for men and women.

To celebrate 50 years of equality, the US Open released a video narrated by Venus Williams—who thanks King for everything she’s done. Here’s the message: “Equality begins with one woman. Equality is 50 years in the making. Equality is being ahead of your time, listening with your heart, and putting your money where your mouth is. Equality is contagious. Equality is including others in the fight. Equality is hitting, screaming, and winning like a boss. Equality is when your seat at the table is a throne, feeling comfortable in your own skin, a force of nature. Equality is knowing 50 years is only the beginning. Thank you, Billie Jean, for 50 years of progress and paving the way for 50 more.”

What do you think about everything the Williams sisters, Lewis Hamilton, and every other sportsperson from a similar background have done to make sport the celebration it is today?

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