Tennis News Today: Coco Gauff turns 1st tennis star to back Napheesa Collier over WNBA claims; Venus & Serena Williams relive distressing gun violence

Tennis stars from around the world have had a busy day, making headlines both on and off the court. From expressing support and sharing personal experiences to revealing challenges faced during tournaments, here are the biggest stories making waves in the tennis world today.

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### 1. Coco Gauff Extends Support to WNBA Star Napheesa Collier

On Tuesday, September 30, Minnesota Lynx basketball star Napheesa Collier sent shockwaves through the sporting world when she publicly criticized the WNBA leadership, calling it “the worst in the world” and expressing deep concerns about the sport’s future.

In response, American tennis sensation Coco Gauff voiced her support during a press conference at the China Open. She said:

> “I know that they’ve been doing a lot behind the scenes, the WNBA girls, specifically her. I met her or saw her at Unrivaled. I didn’t talk to her anything about that. I know they both have been working behind the scenes. I know a lot of the players in the league have found some real issues with it. I think for me it was a pretty brave statement. I think really why she did that is because she wasn’t being heard behind the scenes. Unfortunately, sometimes people don’t like a bad look on them. Sometimes you have to make that move.”

Currently, Gauff is competing in Beijing and is scheduled to face compatriot Amanda Anisimova in the semifinals on Saturday.

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### 2. Venus and Serena Williams Recall Growing Up Amid Gun Violence in Compton

Tennis legends Venus Williams and Serena Williams have shaped the history of women’s tennis. Recently, they launched their own podcast, *Stockton Street Podcast*, where they shared vivid memories from their childhood, particularly the experience of growing up amid gun violence in Compton.

Venus Williams recalled a harrowing incident during a practice session:

> “At one point, during this practice, we’re practicing and I’ll never forget, a guy gets out of his sunroof and just starts shooting. We hit the ground, and I think dad didn’t have the courage to tell us not to tell mom because he wanted us to always tell the truth. So of course, as soon as we got back to the house, we’re like, ‘Mom! Mom! There was a whole shootout at the court!’”

Following this terrifying event, their mother prevented them from practicing at Compton Park for a long time.

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### 3. Terence Atmane Cites Extreme Heat Conditions for Mid-Game Retirement at Shanghai Masters

Rising star Terence Atmane made headlines during the Shanghai Masters after he retired mid-match against Camilo Ugo Carabelli with the score tied at 4-4.

After the match, the World No. 61 explained on social media:

> “Today, after the first point of the match, both of my hands were shaking. After the second game and a comfortable 2-0 lead, I immediately felt my entire body shaking and was suffocating after every point. It led me to a point where I basically couldn’t breathe, and my head started to hurt pretty badly. I felt like no matter what I was doing, I just couldn’t breathe.”

Atmane further revealed that he was unable to even communicate with his physio and felt overwhelmed by panic. He added that he plans to take some time off before returning for the final tournaments of the season.

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### 4. Grigor Dimitrov and Girlfriend Eiza Gonzalez Shine at Milan Fashion Week

Bulgarian tennis star Grigor Dimitrov and his girlfriend, actress Eiza Gonzalez, made a stylish appearance at the Prada SS26 show during Milan Fashion Week.

Sharing glimpses of their outing on social media, Dimitrov captioned one photo:

> “Fashion. Chic. And my love!”

Eiza Gonzalez responded affectionately in the comments:

> “Te amo.”

The couple’s fashionable moment was well received by fans and followers alike.

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### 5. Iga Swiatek Highlights Harsh Reality of Abuse and Harassment After Shock Loss

Polish star Iga Swiatek, a six-time Grand Slam champion, suffered a surprise defeat in the round of 16 at the 2025 China Open, losing to American Emma Navarro.

Following the loss, Swiatek took to social media to shed light on the disturbing abuse she received:

> “Nowadays, this is a sad part of our reality in sports. Bots, betting, but also ‘fans.’ It is worth considering, especially since World Mental Health Day is just a few days away.”

Despite this setback, Swiatek has had a strong 2025 season so far, including winning the Wimbledon title and reaching the semifinals at both the Australian Open and French Open.

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### About the Author

**Riddhi Acharya** is a journalist specializing in Indian sports and US Olympic sports coverage for Sportskeeda. Growing up with a passion for sports, Riddhi brings deep understanding and engaging storytelling to her writing. She is committed to thorough research, adhering to SEO, and journalism best practices to deliver the latest and most interesting sports news.

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*Edited by Urvi Mehra*
https://www.sportskeeda.com/tennis/tennis-news-today-coco-gauff-turns-1st-tennis-star-back-napheesa-collier-wnba-claims-venus-serena-williams-relive-distressing-gun-violence