Martina Navratilova hails 16-year-old Coco Gauff for her active role in ‘Black Lives Matter’ protests

American tennis participant Coco Gauff can enhance the world, 18-time Grand Slam champion Martina Navratilova has mentioned, lauding the teenage tennis prodigy for her role in the Black Lives Matter protests towards racial injustice.

Gauff, 16, launched a video on social media protesting killings of African-Americans in the United States amid widespread outrage throughout the nation following the demise of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man in police custody in Minneapolis.

“She is just so poised on and off the court, she was really brought up with great qualities and it shows how she plays and it shows how she’s active now politically,” Navratilova informed BBC Radio.

“I smile so much when I see the reach she already has now, and she will have in the future. She’s one of those people that can change the world for the better, and she seems to want to do that.”

The demise of Floyd sparked worldwide protests towards racism and calls for reforms of U.S. regulation enforcement. Last month, Gauff appeared at a protest in her hometown of Delray Beach, Florida.

Naomi Osaka, the world’s highest paid sportswoman, and 23-times Grand Slam winner, Serena Williams, additionally made themselves heard concerning racial injustice.

Navratilova, who’s brazenly homosexual, mentioned it was important for sports activities stars to talk out.

“Sports has always been at the forefront of social change and it can be that again, with Black Lives Matter and equality for all,” the 63-year-old mentioned.

Navratilova additionally felt the tennis suspension on account of COVID-19 won’t assist the 38-year-old Williams, who’s chasing Margaret Court’s all-time file of 24 Grand Slams.

“She’s getting older. Time is not her friend at the moment,” Navratilova mentioned. “She’s not going to play better than she did 10 years ago but if she plays as well as she did five years ago, then she’ll be okay.