Christine Haveford
15-year-old Cori “Coco” Gauff became the breakout star of this year’s Wimbledon.
The teenage tennis sensation has picked up many celebrity fans along the way.
This week she met one of them – none other than our Forever First Lady, Michelle Obama.
Gauff was invited to meet Obama, 55, at her office in Washington, D.C. yesterday.
Writing on Instagram, Coco called Mrs Obama a “true inspiration.”
Mom of two Michelle returned the praise on her own Instagram account, hailing the up and coming tennis star as a “wonderful young woman.”
The meeting is thought to have taken place on Thursday.
Coco can be seen smiling widely in a photo as she poses next to Michelle Obama.
Posting the photo, Coco wrote: “Today I got to meet my idol @michelleobama. Her words and wisdom on my journey will stay with me on the court over the course of my career.”
“She is a true inspiration. I have never arrived, I am always becoming! Thank you for your time.”
Mrs Obama gave the tennis ace a signed copy of her bestselling memoir Becoming, with the message: “To Coco, I wish you courage, strength, joy and love on your journey to become more. Warmly, Michelle Obama.”
Meanwhile Coco, real name Cori, gave her host a signed tennis racquet as a gift.
In her post of the meeting, Mrs Obama wrote: “This afternoon, I was thrilled to visit with @CocoGauff. When we talk about the potential of our young people, we often think about it as some far-off promise, years or decades away.”
“But the truth is they have so much to offer us right now—something we all saw a few weeks ago at Wimbledon. Coco is a wonderful young woman who’s showing us that we don’t have to wait to see what the next generation can do.”
Unfortunately the day before their meeting Coco crashed out in the first round of the Citi Open, Washington, D.C.. She lost to Zarina Diyas in straight sets.
Just last month Coco captured the hearts of the nation when she enjoyed a fairytale run to the fourth round of Wimbledon.
She became the youngest person in history to qualify for Wimbledon and reach the last 16.
Guaff’s outstanding performance saw her beat her idol Venus Williams in the first round.
She then beat Slovenian Polona Hercog on Centre Court in a mammoth two hour and 45 minute third round match.
She was eventually knocked out by Romanian player Simona Halep, who went on to win the tournament.
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