Coco Gauff thanks Billie Jean King for fighting for equal pay after collecting her $3 million check

Coco Gauff is honoring Billie Jean King, a feminist icon who fought against discrimination so that women in sports who followed after her would not have to. The 19-year-old Gauff beat 25-year-old Aryna Sabalenka from Belarus in the Flushing Meadows final at the 2023 US Open on Saturday, September 9, 2023. 

Gauff became the youngest American to win the tournament since Serena Williams in 1999. "I feel a little bit in shock at this moment," Gauff told the crowd after winning her first Grand Slam title, reports PEOPLE. "That French Open loss was a heartbreak for me, and that makes this moment even more sweeter than I could imagine." 

There were several people she was grateful for who helped her on this incredible journey. First, she thanked her family and jokingly exposed her dad, "This is the first time I've ever seen my dad cry — he doesn't want me to tell you that." She also appreciated her critics and "the people who didn't believe in me."

"To those who thought they were putting water on my fire, you were really adding gas to it," she said. Finally, she thanked King, who was at the ceremony and presented her with a check for $3 million. "Thank you, Billie, for fighting for this," the charismatic teen said while waving the $3 million winner's cheque.

The tennis legend's longtime fight for equal pay came to fruition at the US Open exactly 50 years ago. Former first lady Michelle Obama recently paid tribute to the four-time US Open singles champion in a heartfelt speech on the 50th anniversary of the US Open becoming the first sporting event to offer equal prize money to female and male competitors. The unexpected tribute took place on the opening night of the tennis championship for King's achievement in fighting for equal pay for women in tennis.

The former First Lady, as seen in a clip obtained by Sky Sports, mentioned how King has always stood as an inspiration for people around her. "Billie Jean teaches us that when things lie in the balance, we all have a choice to make," the mother-of-two said. "We can either wait around and accept what we’re given. We can sit silently and hope someone else fights our battles. Or we can make our own stand."

Though King has garnered more than 30 titles to her name throughout her career, her landmark moment was when she beat Bobby Riggs in a heavily publicized "Battle of the Sexes" match. The win was huge for women in tennis as it was the first time a female player received the same amount a man would get for winning a match: $25,000. It also sheds light on the importance of women's sports and how female players can perform on equal footing with their male counterparts.

The historic match took place on September 20, 1973, at Houston's Astrodome. King, the no.1 player of that time in women's tennis, beat Riggs in straight sets. Through her victory, she brought attention to the unfairness of gender disparity in sports. After the match, even Riggs admitted how good King was. 

Speaking to TODAY's Sheinelle Jones in an interview that aired August 25, King recalled, "When we shook hands, put our arms around each other, he said, 'I underestimated you.'" It led Kings to quickly search for her father amidst the spectators. It reminded her of what her father always taught her and her brother: "Never, ever underestimate your opponent, and always respect them, even if you don't like them."