Mike Tyson makes US Open appearance to watch Coco Gauff: “She’s going to be a big-time champion”

Mike Tyson knows a thing or two about talented athletes.

The former American professional boxer arrived at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Monday night to watch Coco Gauff make her 2023 U.S. Open debut.

The 19-year-old American faced 35-year-old Laura Siegemund from Germany to jumpstart the evening ahead of the Novak Djokovic-Alexandre Muller men’s featured match.

It’s not a surprise Tyson came to cheer on one of the favorites to win the tournament, Gauff. The legendary heavyweight boxer says he appreciates the teenager’s grit and determination.

“She’s a young girl, she has perseverance, she continues on, she doesn’t get discouraged,” Tyson said. “She’s going to be a big-time champion.”

Gauff displayed all of those characteristics in her first round win, which turned out to be a grueling three-set match.

“Thank you New York for getting me through this match,” Gauff said after the match.

“It was a tough match and I wasn’t playing my best tennis,” she added. “I was able to overcome the adversity so I’m happy I was able to get through.

After dropping the first set 6-3, she was able to regroup and grab the second set 6-2. Gauff closed out the match with a 6-4 final set.

While Gauff is one of the favorites to win the tournament, Siegemund gave the teen a run for her money on night one. After going through three rounds of qualifying, the German came out in the match tough and confident, using her forehand slice and net play as a strong weapon. This is a combination that is quite rare — especially on the women’s side.

Other celebrities in attendance for the showdown included Barack and Michelle Obama, Alec Baldwin, Gayle King, Katie Couric, Vera Wang and Anna Wintour.

After an early-tournament test, Gauff will face 16-year-old Russian Mirra Andreeva in the second round.