Suni Lee reacted to Coco Gauff expressing her anticipation for the first round of the 2026 Australian Open. While Lee sits out on the gymnastics mat, her fellow American, Gauff, has been making strides in the tennis realm.
Gauff reached the semifinals at the Melbourne Slam in 2024 and the quarterfinals in 2025, where she lost to Paula Badosa.
Suni Lee Sends Love to Coco Gauff as She Heads to the Australian Open
Lee was last in gymnastics action at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she won gold as part of the American team and also racked up individual medals in the all-around and uneven bars. She later relocated to New York to explore opportunities in the fashion world, mingling with celebrities at the 2024 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show and making her runway debut in 2025.
The Olympic gymnast also attended the Glamour Women of the Year Awards and the ESPY Awards, as well as NBA Playoffs games in 2025. Amid her various career pursuits, Lee has been a strong support system for her fellow athletes, especially women who defy belief with their prowess.
In a recent Instagram post, two-time Grand Slam champion Gauff shared pictures of her embracing a new burnt orange hairstyle and a mint-green fit for a pre-game press conference, among others.”high on happiness 🙂 first one tmmrw😛 #happyslam”
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Lee showed her support, commenting: “go coco goooo!!!!”
Gauff and Lee shared the same Olympic stage in Paris 2024, where the former reached the second round. The WTA star etched her name in history by becoming the youngest female flag-bearer for the United States at the opening ceremony. She joined NBA legend LeBron James and expressed what an ‘honor’ it was for her.
Her friend Lee hailed her and wrote “you’re the coolest” in the tennis star’s Instagram post.
The 22-year-old became the first Hmong American to win the all-around gold medal at the Olympics when she did so at the 2020 Tokyo Games. Lee had been maintaining strong form when she faced the most brutal blow of her career, a rare kidney condition that kept her off the mat for a significant period.
She also missed the 2023 World Championships and the Pan American Games, but returned to competition in the Olympic year. Having forged an inspiring journey from setbacks back to the Olympic stage, Lee has often hinted that she may not return for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
While Lee’s gymnastics future remains uncertain, Gauff will face off Kamilla Rakhimova in the opening round at the 2026 Australian Open.
