Aug. 29 (UPI) -- Seeing Simone Biles in the stands helped clear tears from Coco Gauff's eyes and provided inspiration for her second-round victory at the 2025 U.S. Open.
Gauff, who is revamping her serve, had that serve broken four times in the opening set, but shook off her disappointment en route to a gritty 7-6(5), 6-2 triumph over No. 49 Donna Vekic of Croatia on Thursday in Flushing, N.Y.
She wiped tears off her face early in the match as she piled up errors and double faults. Gauff looked up in the stands of Arthur Ashe Stadium during the final set and saw Biles, who battled anxiety and other mental pressures at the 2024 Summer Olympics to cement her status as the greatest gymnast in history.
"She helped me pull it out," Gauff said on the ESPN broadcast, when asked about Biles. "I was thinking that if she can go on a 6-inch beam and do that with all the pressures of the world, then I can hit the ball on however big this court is.
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