Serena Williams’ husband Alexis Ohanian has rolled out the red carpet for young tennis star Coco Gauff with an exclusive invitation to the Athlos 25 event.
Ohanian extended the VIP offer after New Zealand sprinter Zoe Hobbs complimented Gauff’s impressive athleticism.
Though Gauff clinched the 2023 US Open title and is known for her prowess on the tennis court, she has previously hinted at her talents on the running track, which might have prompted Ohanian’s invite.
In a video by Athlos’ official X account, Hobbs expressed her admiration for Gauff: “Someone who would startle me if I came across them would be Coco Gauff.
“I was just so impressed with the power that they have. To see them actually play in person is so different to seeing them on TV, and Coco, being one of the best in the world, I think it would be awesome to meet her.”
Consequently, Ohanian took to social media to repost the video, tagging Gauff’s page with the message: “I got a spot waiting for you in a trackside suite.”
Gauff has garnered attention for her swift moves on the tennis court, drawing parallels with top sprinters and has spoken about her previous potential in track athletics, asserting her belief that she could have gone to the Olympics.
Speaking to Marca in 2023, Gauff disclosed: “I don’t know if I would have been as good as I was in tennis in track. But I strongly feel like if I would have trained I could have been an Olympian.
“Track is the only sport I would say that in, just because I did do well in middle school, never training. I didn’t go to one track practice, and I won all my races except two.”
Speed is a family trait for Gauff, with her mother Candi having been a track and field star at Florida State University and her father Corey a basketball player for Georgia State. Reddit co-founder Ohanian hasn’t hesitated to express his support for Gauff’s prowess previously either.
Earlier in the year, he cheered her on after American hurdler Alaysha Johnson recounted a story from the Paris 2024 Olympics where Gauff recognized her for her distinctive uniforms and “frozen glasses.”
This prompted Ohanian to tweet: “Here for Coco Gauff and Alaysha Johnson.”
Known for championing women’s sports through Athlos, Ohanian has funded a competition introduced in 2024 featuring a record-setting prize pool, attracting Olympic stars such as Gabby Thomas and Faith Kipyegon.
Now, Ohanian is inviting Gauff to show her support, though it remains uncertain if Gauff will accept the invitation.
This article originally appeared on the US Mirror
Content Source: www.express.co.uk