After beating Italian Martina Trevisan 6-3 6-1 in straight sets, the American explained that she didn’t plan to write this message in advance, but wanted to convey an “important” message.
“It is important as a person in the world, whether he plays tennis or not. I think it was especially important for me to just be in Europe and be where I know people from all over the world are probably watching.” she said.
“I think it’s a problem in other parts of the world, but especially in America, it’s a problem that, frankly, has been around for a few years, but obviously it’s getting more attention now. But for me it was a problem for years.
“For me, it’s kind of close to home. I had a few friends who were filming in Parkland. I remember watching it all practically firsthand, seeing friends go through the whole experience. Luckily they were able to. I just think it’s crazy, I think I was 14 or 13 when it happened and still nothing has changed.
“I think it was just a message for the people who stayed at home to watch and for the people who are around the world to watch. I hope it gets into the heads of the people in the office to hopefully make a difference.”
Gauf’s message came after the recent spate of mass shootings in the United States.
Using Platforms for Change
Gauff explained that sports stars should use their platforms for change, and that she learned a lot about how to have a voice from other famous athletes.
“Definitely, I would say LeBron James, Serena (Williams), Billie Jean (King), Colin (Kepernick), the list goes on, Naomi (Osaka), it really touches on these issues,” she said.
“I think that now the athletes are bigger, I feel more comfortable talking about such things. It seems to me that many times we have been put in a box that people always say, “Oh, sports and politics should remain separate and all that. ‘ And I say yes, but at the same time I am first and foremost a person before becoming a tennis player.
“If I was interested, I would not even consider the policy of violence with firearms; I think it’s just life in general. I don’t think it’s politics at all. But overall, I think I’m first and foremost a human being. So, of course, I will take care of these issues and talk about these issues.
“When people make comments like that, I’m not going to be an athlete forever. There will come a time when I retire and all that, and I’ll still be human. So of course I care about those topics.
“I think, if anything, sport gives you a platform to get that message out to more people.”
Gauff will meet with the first racket of the world among women. 1 Iga Swiatek in Saturday’s French Open final.
