As one of the prominent figures on the WTA Tour, Coco Gauff released a statement on the ongoing War in Israel.
As one of the leading figures of the women's Tour, Gauff will often have different responsibilities, and even though many say that sports and politics should not mix, it often includes also various statements on geo-political situations.
One of those is the most recent conflict between Israel and Palestine, marked by an escalation on October 7th, 2023. Tennis Tours were also affected by it, as the men's Tel Aviv Open had to be cancelled, but most importantly, hundreds of thousands of people were affected by the conflict.
The events of October 7th, initiated by an attack from Hamas targeting Israeli towns near the Gaza Strip, led to a significant loss of life and uprooted thousands. While Israel mourned the death of 1,200 of its citizens, including over 120 soldiers, the Palestinians faced similar situation, with many people also having to move out of their homes.
The American No. 1 took to the realm of social media to share her heartache with millions of her followers. In a touching message, Gauff encapsulated the pain that many felt.
"I am heartbroken by the tragic loss of innocent lives and firmly denounce any acts of terrorism. My heart goes out to all of the innocent Israeli and Palestinian lives involved."
"The heinous nature of these actions is incomprehensible, and my family's hearts go out to the families of those who have lost loved ones, those who have been injured, and those who are still missing."
The teenager, who has showed her faith before, also said that she and her family will continue praying for people in the region.
"I hold onto hope for peace in the region and stand firm on combatting all forms of hatred. My family and I will continue to pray for all of the families in mourning."