New Delhi: American tennis star Coco Gauff has pledged to donate $100,000 to the UNCF for providing scholarships to students that are involved in competitive tennis at historically Black colleges and universities.
The Coco Gauff Scholarship Program will be looked after by the UNCF from now on, it was announced on Tuesday.
“My family has a deep-rooted history with HBCUs, going all the way back to my great-great-grandfather. From aunts and uncles to cousins, HBCUs have played a huge role in shaping who we are,” Gauff said.
“Supporting UNCF in creating opportunities for student-athletes in tennis means a lot to me. As a young Black athlete, I understand how impactful it is to see people who look like me thriving in both sports and education.”
US Open champion in 2023, Gauff is placed third in the WTA rankings and has also won the 2024 French Open women’s doubles title.
The 20-year-old went down to Paula Badosa in the quarter-finals of the 2025 Australian Open.
“Her commitment not only showcases her dedication to education and athletics but also inspires the next generation of student-athletes to pursue their dreams,” said Maurice Jenkins Jr., UNCF’s executive vice president and chief development officer.
“This gift reinforces the importance of supporting our young leaders and ensuring they have the resources necessary to succeed both on and off the court.”
Jabeur wins in Abu Dhabi opener
Former World No. 2 Ons Jabeur won her first round match at the WTA 500 Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open.
Jabeur defeated No. 7 seed Jelena Ostapenko 7-6(4), 7-5, in 1 hour and 46 minutes to register her third straight victory over 2017 French Open champion Ostapenko.
“Jelena is such a great player. It’s very tough to play her. So I tried to focus on myself — and the crowd definitely helped,” Jabeur said after her win.
“I was really trying to stay focused, because if you lose a little bit of focus here, she can take advantage. So I’m very happy with the level that I played in, and definitely did not get frustrated at the right moments.”
Supporting UNCF in creating opportunities for student-athletes in tennis means a lot to me, said Coco Gauff Tennis Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
