Tennis

Coco Gauff, the rising American tennis star, has found inspiration in the words of WNBA legend A'ja Wilson to navigate the ups and downs of her 2024 season.After winning her second WTA 1000 title in Beijing, Gauff reflected on the challenges she faced this year, including a dip in her world ranking and the end of her coaching partnership with Brad Gilbert. However, she refused to label her season as a disappointment, citing her Grand Slam semifinal appearances and doubles triumph at Roland Garros.Gauff drew inspiration from Wilson, the three-time WNBA MVP who led the Las Vegas Aces to back-to-back championships. Despite their quest for a three-peat falling short, Wilson emphasized the difficulty of maintaining a winning streak."People don't realize people have great moments in sports and bad moments. It doesn't mean anything," Gauff said. "You need to go through losses to realize what you need to do to evolve."Gauff's resilience was evident in her Wuhan Open debut, where she overcame fatigue to defeat Viktoriya Tomova in straight sets. She attributed her success to her love of competition and the absence of pressure."I have zero expectations this week, so it's kind of one of those rare opportunities where there's no pressure," Gauff said. "Every match you're just happy to get through, honestly."Gauff's positive mindset and ability to learn from setbacks have been key to her success. She recognizes that even the best athletes experience periods of adversity, and that these challenges can ultimately lead to growth and improvement.

Coco Gauff, the reigning US Open champion, has received a flattering tribute from WNBA star Cameron Brink. Brink, a rookie for the Los Angeles Sparks, went viral for her pregame cosplay of Gauff's Roland Garros outfit.Brink, who is also sponsored by New Balance, arrived at the arena for a game against the Indiana Fever wearing a similar New Balance collared polo tank and pleated skirt to the separates that Gauff has been wearing on court in Paris."I want to be like Coco," Brink said.Gauff, who is a noted basketball fan, was surprised and delighted by the shoutout."I haven't got the chance to meet Cameron yet, but obviously been watching her a lot when she was at Stanford and now seeing her in the WNBA is great, and I definitely want to try to catch a game," Gauff said.Gauff also expressed her hope that Brink would one day have the chance to show off her own style chops with her own signature New Balance shoe."I hope one day maybe ... I can rock it too for my press events," Gauff said. "She's awesome."Gauff has been equally impressive on the court at Roland Garros. She clinched a spot in the quarterfinals for the fourth straight year with a 6-1, 6-2 win over unseeded Italian Elisabetta Cocciaretto on Sunday. In four matches in Paris, Gauff hasn't lost a set and has surrendered just 18 games.

WNBA Star Cameron Brink Channels Coco Gauff's Tennis StyleAs the French Open heats up, tennis fashion is making waves in the WNBA. Rookie sensation Cameron Brink has revealed her inspiration for a recent pre-game outfit: US Open champion Coco Gauff.In a video posted to social media, Brink confessed, "I'm wearing my little New Balance tennis set, I want to be like Coco." The Stanford alumna paired the set with New Balance sneakers and "old-school socks" before her team's game against the Indiana Fever.Both Brink and Gauff are sponsored by New Balance and recently starred in an ad campaign for the brand. Brink's pre-game attire adds to the growing popularity of "tenniscore" fashion, which has been trending in pop culture thanks to the release of the film "Challengers" and Zendaya's stylish promotional looks.However, tennis icons like Venus Williams argue that the practice of incorporating tennis aesthetics into everyday fashion has been around for a long time. "Tennis never goes out of style—it’s always trending!" Williams said. "I’ve always loved seeing people embracing tennis-core and incorporating it into every day style in their own unique way."At Roland Garros, Gauff has been sporting a gray New Balance set in her first two matches. Her collared polo tank and pleated skirt have been paired with a new gray colorway of her signature CG1 shoe.Brink's and Gauff's fashion choices highlight the intersection of sports and fashion. Tenniscore is not just a trend but a reflection of the sport's enduring influence on style.