How Justin Bieber inspired Coco Gauff to earn a comeback win at the 2023 US Open
Coco Gauff is currently one of tennis’ biggest stars, as an American woman with two Grand Slam titles to her name.
Having already proven herself as a mainstay at the apex of the sport at such a young age, there are huge expectations about the career she could have in the years to come.
There’s a very valid argument to suggest that her star power actually dwarfs that of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner’s, given her overwhelming popularity.
READ: Why Donald Trump defended Serena Williams during the 2009 US
That is no better exemplified than in the calibre of guests she seems to attract to her matches, with the US Open always providing the perfect opportunity for big names to make an appearance.
Coco Gauff’s reaction to being watched by Justin Bieber at the US Open
However, there are arguably few bigger names on the planet than Justin Bieber, who was the headline figure sitting in the stands during the 2023 US Open campaign.
Among the other stars on display that day, Gauff will have been high on his list of priorities.
It must have been a surprise to therefore see her stumble into a one-set deficit against Elise Mertens, staring down the barrel of a third-round exit.
That was, until she looked up at the Jumbotron and saw who was in attendance. Turning the match around, the 21-year-old went on to win 3-6, 6-3, 6-0, and told ESPN afterwards: “I was like, ‘I can’t lose in front of Justin Bieber. I didn’t lose a game after I saw him.”
Then, speaking to the press later on, Gauff added: “It’s crazy. I’ve come to the Open for years. Being a fan, just looking in the crowd to see who’s coming, looking in the president’s box, the suites, to see who’s there… Now, being a player, it’s really crazy.
“I was definitely starstruck with Justin Bieber. ‘Never Say Never’ was one of my favourite songs when I was a kid. Then ‘Baby, Oh, Baby’. I could go through all his songs. Then Hailey, too, coming… I guess it was a little date night for them, which was really cool.”
Coco Gauff’s star power is huge
Gauff may have been left starstruck back in 2023, but for many, she is just as star-studded as the celebrities that come to watch her.
After all, you need only look back to how they reacted to her US Open triumph that year, as she soared to the title against all the odds.
Winning her maiden major, so many celebrities took to social media to praise her performance.
Jaden Smith, son of Will Smith, wrote: “HOLY AHHHHHHHHHH @cocogauff Congrats YOU DID IT GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU WON THE US OPEN AT 19!!!!!!!!!! Swag”.
Justin Timberlake simply claimed: “She is THAT!”
Elsewhere, the likes of Justin and Hailey Bieber, LeBron James, Will Smith and Zendaya would repost pictures of the American in celebration, who was just 19 at the time of this extraordinary success.
Since then, her star power has only grown.
