Before Carlos Alcaraz grew to become a family identify, even inside the tennis world, he flew underneath the radar – a lot in order that Coco Gauff did not acknowledge him when he first reached out.
In a latest interview with Bleacher Report, Gauff, now the No. 2 ranked participant on the WTA Tour, revealed a lighthearted however stunning second from 2019: Alcaraz as soon as messaged her on Instagram, asking, “Do you bear in mind me?”
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Her reply? Silence.
On the time, Alcaraz was an unknown teenager from Spain nonetheless working his approach up the ranks. Gauff, a rising star herself after a breakout Wimbledon run that 12 months, admitted she did not bear in mind who he was – and did not reply.
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That ghosting second has since gone viral after her candid confession throughout the interview.
It wasn’t till 2022, when Alcaraz stormed to his first Grand Slam title on the US Open, that Gauff realized who he was.
The win made Alcaraz the youngest world No. 1 in ATP historical past and solidified his place among the many sport’s elite. Solely then did Gauff lastly ship him a congratulatory message on Instagram.
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Whereas the story has introduced laughter and light-hearted reactions from followers, it additionally highlights simply how shortly issues can change in skilled sports activities. Again in 2019, each gamers had been youngsters on the rise. Right this moment, they’re among the many brightest stars in tennis – and each Grand Slam champions.
Alcaraz‘s speedy ascent from relative obscurity to world tennis sensation has been some of the compelling narratives lately. By the point Gauff circled again with a message of congratulations, he had already captured the world’s consideration together with his all-court prowess and fearless perspective.
Gauff herself has loved a meteoric rise. After her US Open title in 2023, she cemented her standing as one of many faces of the ladies’s recreation. The 2 younger champions at the moment are symbols of a brand new era redefining tennis each on and off the courtroom.
Their transient social media anecdote has added a contact of humor and relatability to their meteoric careers – a reminder that even world stars have missed messages and awkward DMs.
