Faithwire
  • Watch
  • Go!
  • Podcasts
  • Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • SCOTUS
  • Life
  • Religious Liberty
  • News
  • Politics
  • Faith
  • Opinion

Tennis Prodigy Coco Gauff’s Dad Taught Her to Pray for Her Opponent Before Every Match

Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
Share Tweet
By Will Maule
Author

July 8, 2019

Today, teenage tennis prodigy Coco Gauff faced her sternest test at this year’s Wimbledon Championships, being beaten in straight sets by world number seven, Simona Halep.

Rugby Australia Says Bible Itself Is the ‘Problem’ in Stunning Admission About Israel Folau’s Firing

Gauff, who is just 15-years of age, has taken the world by storm over the past 10 days, defeating women’s tennis icon Venus Williams in the first round before storming through another two matches on route to the second week.

But her electric sporting ability is not the only captivating thing about this talented young woman — she has also shown tremendous character, spirit and faith throughout these wild, adrenaline-fueled days spent thumping tennis balls around the hallowed grass courts of the All England Club.

Following her momentous win over former champion Venus Williams, Gauff graciously thanked the champion for everything she has done for the sport. “She’s been an inspiration for many people,” Gauff told the New York Times. “I was just really telling her thank you. I met her before, but I didn’t really have the guts to say anything.”

Then, the youngster knelt down by her chair for a prayer — a spiritual practice that sticks with her ever since her Dad suggested the pair pray together before heading out on the match court.

“Before every match, since I was 8, my dad and I say a prayer together,” Gauff explained. “We don’t really pray about victory, just that me and my opponent stay safe. After the match, I was just thanking God for this opportunity.”

Thanks for all the surreal messages and fan support! It has been a dream week. Let’s keep it rolling @Wimbledon ???‍♀️?

— Coco Gauff (@CocoGauff) July 6, 2019

It is a story that, with each win, just kept getting that bit more remarkable.

Gauff was on her way to train in the south of France when she received a call from organizers at the Wimbledon qualifiers, offering her a wildcard — an extraordinary thing to happen to someone ranked 313th.

Coco immediately changed her plans, caught a flight to South West London and ended up storming through her qualifying matches, before drawing Venus in the first round of the main draw. “Obviously, I literally got my dream draw,” she said.

‘All Glory Goes to God’: Virginia Basketball Star Puts His Faith First as He Heads to NBA

Now, with a wonderfully impressive Grand Slam debut to build upon, Gauff was quick to credit her dad for instilling the deep-rooted confidence that is likely to serve her well for years to come.

“My dad told me that I could do this when I was 8,” she said.

Yeah, we got that on camera! ??@CocoGauff meets @rogerfederer! pic.twitter.com/ir204b88f2

— WTA (@WTA) July 3, 2019

“Obviously you never believe it. I’m still not, like 100 percent confident. But, like, you have to just say things. You never know what happens. If I went into this match saying, ‘Let me see how many games I can get against her,’ then I most definitely would not have won. My goal was to play my best. My dream was to win. That’s what happened. I think people just kind of limit themselves too much.”

“We’re surprised it is coming as soon as it is,” Coco’s parents said of her staggering rise to the upper echelons of the game. “But we’re not surprised about her potential.”

Latest

  • News

    ‘Proof That God Is Faithful’: Premature Baby Raises Hand as Father Sings Gospel Song to Him

  • Israel

    Ancient Writings Referring to King David Confirmed on Stone in Louvre Museum

  • Faith

    ‘We Need Prayer’: Save the Storks Prepares for New Life-Saving, Post-Roe Battle

  • culture

    Ex-Psychic’s Alarming Warning to Parents About Witchcraft, Evil, and the Occult: ‘Shows How Deceptive the Devil Is’

  • News

    Arkansas Law Would Give New, ‘More Accurate’ Name to Child Pornography


Sponsored
Sponsored

Newsletter
Signup

Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • ‘Proof That God Is Faithful’: Premature Baby Raises Hand as Father Sings Gospel Song to Him
  • Ancient Writings Referring to King David Confirmed on Stone in Louvre Museum
  • ‘We Need Prayer’: Save the Storks Prepares for New Life-Saving, Post-Roe Battle
  • Ex-Psychic’s Alarming Warning to Parents About Witchcraft, Evil, and the Occult: ‘Shows How Deceptive the Devil Is’
  • Arkansas Law Would Give New, ‘More Accurate’ Name to Child Pornography

Archives

  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016

Categories

  • Christian Persecution
  • Coronavirus
  • Culture
  • culture
  • Entertainment
  • Faith
  • Faith
  • Family
  • George Floyd
  • Go!
  • Israel
  • Life
  • Life
  • Lifestyle
  • Media
  • Men
  • Mission Haiti
  • News
  • News
  • Opinion
  • P.O.V
  • Politics
  • Politics
  • Sponsored
  • Sports
  • Virtue
  • Women

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Navigation

  • Watch
  • Go!
  • Podcasts
  • Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Staff
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram

Subscribe to the Newsletter

Sign up to get our newsletter your inbox every day.

Newsletter Signup

Do you want to read
more articles like this?