Coco Gauff says overturning Roe v. Wade is 'going backwards', Serena Williams 'not ready' to share thoughts

By Jack Bantock, Wayne Sterling, and Matt Foster, CNN

Updated 1950 GMT (0350 HKT) June 25, 2022

Coco Gauff during a training session ahead of Wimbledon.

(CNN)The Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade is a case of history repeating itself and «going backwards», Americantennis star Coco Gauff said Saturday.

Friday's opinion held that there is no longer a federal constitutional right to an abortion, with abortion rights to be determined by states, unless Congress acts.Speaking ahead of the start of Wimbledon's main draw, Gauff said she was «disappointed» with the decision.«I feel bad for future women and women now, but I also feel bad for those who protested for this,» the 18-year-old told reporters.«To see that decision be reversed, I just think that's history repeating itself and I feel like, at least from my reading and researching because I do like history… having this decision reversed just feels like we're almost going backwards.»Read MoreThe Supreme Court's opinion has sparked concerns that the ruling could open the door for courts to overturn same-sex marriage, contraception and other rights.Though the majority opinion, written by Justice Samuel Alito, attempted to wall off its holding in Friday's abortion case from those other rulings, Justice Clarence Thomas wrote separately to call explicitly for those other rulings to be revisited.Gauff added that she was concerned the ruling could be the first of other similar decisions on social issues.«I feel like it also kind of puts a lead way in maybe to reverse other things that we — I wouldn't say me personally — worked so hard to reverse.»Gauff during the French Open in May.The World no. 12 is set to face Romania's Elena-Gabriela Ruse, ranked 43 places below