Coco Gauff was left star-struck by Justin Bieber within the crowd throughout her US Open match with Elise Mertens, however the 19-year-old American mentioned the singer’s presence additionally impressed her comeback victory on Friday.
Gauff dropped the opening set at Arthur Ashe Stadium however rallied, sealing a 3-6 6-3 6-0 win and reaching the fourth spherical with Bieber and his spouse, Hailey, watching.
“I definitely saw who was there,” Gauff mentioned on the ESPN broadcast after the match.
“I thought, ‘I cannot lose in front of Justin Bieber’. I didn’t lose a game after I saw that.
“I got a little tight when I first saw him, then I remembered President (Barack) Obama and Michelle Obama were at my first-round match.”
Sixth seed Gauff, who’s chasing her first grand slam title, mentioned she was honoured to have celebrities within the stands throughout her matches this 12 months.
Apart from the Obamas and the Biebers, the likes of Miami Heat six-time NBA All-Star Jimmy Butler and actress Katie Holmes have additionally attended her matches.
“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,” Gauff mentioned.
“I was definitely star-struck with Justin. ‘Never Say Never’ was like the first, I think 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.”
Gauff, who faces former world No.1 Caroline Wozniacki subsequent, mentioned there was one other celeb who would go away her star-struck.
“Definitely Beyonce,” Gauff mentioned.
“If she ever came, oh my goodness, I hope they wouldn’t show her on the screen. Maybe at the end.”
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
