(MENAFN- IANS)
London, July 2 (IANS) Legendary tennis player Martina Navratilova heaped praise on 16-year-old America sensation Coco Gauff for her powerful speech at a 'Black Lives Matter' protest recently.
Gauff had delivered a strong message last month during a demonstration at Delray Beach in Florida in the aftermath of George Floyd's death at the hands of a Minneapolis police personnel.
Navratilova, who won 18 Grand Slam singles titles during the course of her illustrious career, stated Gauff wants to change the world for the better and her immense following at such a young age can help her realise that dream.
"She's (Gauff) just so poised on and off the court. She was just really brought up with great qualities and it shows how she plays, it shows how she's active now politically," Navratilova said on BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
"I smile so much when I see the reach that 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.
"I think the way things are going now, with some countries making great progress and some countries, like ours here in America - in my opinion - going backwards in time, I think it's essential that people get involved," she added.
Gauff caught the imagination of tennis followers worldwide after she stunned Venus Williams in the opening round of 2019 Wimbledon.
She won her first WTA title, aged 15, at the 2019 Linz Open and became the youngest women's singles title holder since 2004.
--IANS
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