Coco Gauff predicted US Open climate change protest would happen ahead of semifinal win
Recent interruptions at Roland Garros and Wimbledon led the 19-year-old to think her home major would be next, and she was right.
Coco Raven Baxter Gauff strikes again!
Hours before taking the court for her US Open semifinal Thursday night, Coco Gauff had a feeling that a certain form of expression would take over Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Her intuition was right, except it came a little earlier than she anticipated.
After opening a 6-4, 1-0 lead against Karolina Muchova, the pair’s contest was abruptly interrupted by three spectators in the upper bowl of the 20,000 seat venue. Gauff immediately knew they were climate change protestors.
“The crazy thing is this morning, I told myself, 'I bet there's gonna be a climate change protest in the final.' I didn't think it was gonna be in the semifinal,” the 19-year-old shared on ESPN after defeating Muchova, 6-4, 7-5. “When it happened, I told the rep that it was a protest.”
The delay lasted for 50 minutes due as a result of one protestor glueing his feet to the ground. Gauff felt history would repeat itself following similar incidents earlier in the year on the major stages.
“I feel like something's gonna happen this weekend because they did it at French Open, they did it at Wimbledon. Nothing happened at US Open yet,” said Gauff.
“I was like, maybe the trend will continue. So that's what I was thinking about.”
Responded Chris Evert, “She’s psychic!”
This year, Gauff previously predicted Rihanna's opening Super Bowl number and was the only player along those polled by Tennis Channel to correctly call "Everything Everywhere All At Once" as the Oscar winner for Best Picture.
The Delray Beach, Fla. native is through to her second major singles final, following her 2022 Roland Garros runner-up finish to Iga Swiatek.