Christian tennis star Coco Gauff has faced criticism before for praying on court and sharing her faith. But that hasn’t stopped her. After winning her second Grand Slam title at the French Open, Gauff boldly praised God once again for her victory.
As believers we know that every good and perfect gift comes from our heavenly Father. When we celebrate victories and success in our lives, our first words should be our gratitude to God.
That’s exactly what Gauff did when she won the biggest match of her career.
A Historic Win on the Court
The 21-year-old defeated top player Aryna Sabalenka in an amazing three-set match. Gauff became the first American to win the French Open since Serena Williams took the title in 2015. She also became the youngest American woman to win there since 2002.
Right after her win, Gauff shared her heart on social media. “Wow. This means so much to me, truly….French Open champion,” she wrote.
“I worked so hard for this moment, and for it to have happened is insane. Thank you, God, and thank you, everyone. This means the world…. I’m still in shock, honestly can’t find the words, but all I can say for now is just thank you and never give up on your dreams.”
Fighting Through the Dark Times
The victory meant everything to Gauff because of what happened three years ago. She lost in the French Open final back then and went through a really hard time. “I was going through a lot of things when I lost in this final three years ago,” she said.
“I’m just happy to be here, a lot of dark thoughts. Just the fact that I stayed to it just means a lot.”
Those dark thoughts could have ended her career. But Gauff held onto her faith and kept fighting. She later shared on Instagram that doubts filled her head during that difficult time. This made her recent win “mean absolutely everything.”
Never Hiding Her Faith
Gauff never hides her faith. She always thanks God in her speeches and interviews.
After finishing second in the Madrid Open earlier this year, she said from center court, “First, I’d like to thank my lord and savior Jesus Christ to be here and the opportunity to play in the final.”
This pattern started early in her career. When she won the 2023 US Open, she knelt down right on the court and prayed. The moment touched many hearts but also brought criticism from some people online.
WATCH: Coco Gauff Kneels and Prays on the Court (Inspiring story continues below)
Standing Strong Against the Critics
Some fans on social media have attacked Gauff for talking about Jesus. They want her to keep her faith private. But Gauff refuses to stay quiet about what matters most to her.
“I’m not out here trying to force anybody to believe in anything,” she explained. “I share my beliefs for people who also believe in it, as well.” She called the criticism a form of censorship and said people should be free to express their beliefs.
Gauff believes sharing her faith can help others who might be struggling. “For me, it’s important to share it and let other people know it helps me; it could also help someone else in their life,” she said.
The Road to Victory
The road to this French Open title was not easy. Gauff had lost to Sabalenka twice before in Madrid. But she did not give up.
During the final match, she lost the first set in a close battle. Then something amazing happened. She won 11 of the next 17 games and took the championship.
“I would like to thank you guys. The crowd really helped me today. You guys were cheering for me so hard,” Gauff told the crowd after her big win. She celebrated with her parents and even took pictures with the ball kids while holding her trophy.
A Challenge for All of Us
Coco Gauff went through many hardships, but through it all she clung to her faith in Jesus. She even faced criticism for sharing her beliefs, but still she courageously continued proclaiming the mighty name of Jesus.
This takes real guts when the whole world is watching. Most of us struggle to mention God’s name in front of our coworkers or friends. But Gauff shows us what bold faith looks like.
She reminds us that we should practice this same courage to share the gospel with others and lift up His name without shame during our achievements.
When God blesses us, the least we can do is give Him the credit He deserves.
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