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Cori Gauff during the French Open semifinals
Photo:
GONZALO FUENTES / REUTERS
After reaching the final of the French Open, American tennis player Coco Gauff pointed out the major problems with gun violence in her home country.
"Peace!
End gun violence,” the 18-year-old wrote on the lens of the TV camera in Paris.
It is common for tennis pros to write greetings or messages on the camera after their wins.
»It is important for me to use the platform that I have.
Especially here in Europe,” said Gauff after her 6: 3, 6: 1 against Martina Trevisan from Italy in the semifinals.
"We definitely need a change and a reform in this aspect," said Gauff.
The 18-year-old had already commented on the violence in the United States on social networks in the past few days.
The United States is currently being rocked by a spate of acts in which gunmen open fire and kill several people.
At an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, 19 children and two teachers were shot dead last week.
Gauff will now meet the Polish world number one Iga Swiatek in the French Open final on Saturday, who clearly won her semi-final against Darja Kassatkina from Russia 6: 2, 6: 1.
Gauff and Trevisan, on the other hand, fought a balanced duel in the first set.
Both players struggled to serve through.
Towards the end of the first round, Gauff, who won the junior women's competition at the Stade Roland Garros in 2018, got stronger and won the first set.
After that Trevisan had to be treated for a few minutes.
The Italian had won the tournament in Rabat in the run-up to the French Open and has therefore played a lot lately.
That was noticeable now, Trevisan started the second set with a thick thigh bandage.
Although the Italian tried everything again here, Gauff was too strong on this sunny day in Paris and used her first match ball after 1:28 hours.
“I'm a bit shocked right now.
I have no words that can describe it," said Gauff after her victory.
She wants to go into the final on Saturday with the same composure as in all the games in the Bois de Boulogne so far.
»So many things are happening in the world right now, especially in the USA.
This is just a tennis match," Gauff said.
ara/dpa
