Coco Gauff’s U.S. Open run came to an end on Thursday (September 10), but the tennis star received a message of support from former First Lady Michelle Obama following her semifinal loss.
Gauff fell to Elena Rybakina 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 at Arthur Ashe Stadium, ending her bid for another U.S. Open title.
Obama, who was in the stands for the semifinal, shared a message for Gauff on social media after the match, sending the 22-year-old words of encouragement after the hard-fought loss. “Big hugs to @CocoGauff!!! She’s a joy to watch. Always proud. Go USA Tennis!!” Obama wrote on X.
Big hugs to @CocoGauff!!! She’s a joy to watch. Always proud. Go USA Tennis!! 🙏🏾💕— Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) September 11, 2026
Gauff also reflected on the loss in a social media post Friday morning (September 11), writing, “gave it my all” and thanking New York. “It hurts but I’ll be back,” she added.
The loss ended Gauff’s run at the tournament after she battled through a dramatic quarterfinal against Mirra Andreeva, coming back from two match points down to advance to the final four.
The 22-year-old entered the U.S. Open after winning the Cincinnati Open, giving her an 10-match winning streak heading into the tournament. She was seeking her second U.S. Open championship after winning the title in 2023.
Despite Thursday’s loss, Gauff said she felt she had made progress in her game, according to Reuters.
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