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Gauff, 16, released a video on social media
protesting killings of African-Americans in the United States
amid widespread outrage across the country following the death
of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man in police custody in
Minneapolis.
"She is just so poised on and off the court, she was really
brought up with great qualities and it shows how she plays and
it shows how she's active now politically," Navratilova told BBC
Radio.
"I smile so much when I see the reach she already has now, and
she will have in the future. She's one of those people that can
change the world for the better, and she seems to want to do
that."
The death of Floyd sparked worldwide protests against racism and
calls for reforms of U.S. law enforcement. Last month, Gauff
appeared at a protest in her hometown of Delray Beach, Florida.
Naomi Osaka, the world's highest paid sportswoman, and 23-times
Grand Slam winner, Serena Williams, also made themselves heard
regarding racial injustice.
Navratilova, who is openly gay, said it was vital for sports
stars to speak out.
"Sports has always been at the forefront of social change and it
can be that again, with Black Lives Matter and equality for
all," the 63-year-old said.
Navratilova also felt the tennis suspension due to COVID-19 will
not help the 38-year-old Williams, who is chasing Margaret
Court's all-time record of 24 Grand Slams.
"She's getting older. Time is not her friend at the moment,"
Navratilova said. "She's not going to play better than she did
10 years ago but if she plays as well as she did five years ago,
then she'll be okay."
(Reporting by Sudipto Ganguly in Mumbai; editing by Lincoln
Feast.)
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