Venus Williams recently gave a glowing tribute to Coco Gauff, calling her “fantastic” and expressing her desire to see the 20-year-old “win every match” she plays. In a heartfelt reflection, the seven-time Grand Slam champion spoke about Gauff’s inspiring journey and her own admiration for how the young star has achieved her dreams, emphasizing how the world No. 3 is a great example of turning aspirations into reality.
Coco Gauff’s rise to prominence in the tennis world has been nothing short of remarkable, and her connection to the Williams sisters—Venus and Serena—has always been a significant part of her narrative. Gauff grew up idolizing the two legends, often speaking about how their success and perseverance motivated her to pursue her own path in tennis. From her early days, Gauff has never hesitated to acknowledge the pivotal role the Williams sisters played in her journey. This admiration reached a heartfelt moment earlier this year when a viral image from 2012 resurfaced, showing an eight-year-old Gauff watching Venus Williams play at the US Open.
In this nostalgic photo, Gauff can be seen intently watching Venus’s match against Bethanie Mattek-Sands, a moment that, unbeknownst to her, was captured on camera. When the United States Tennis Association (USTA) unearthed the image and shared it online, it quickly gained attention. Gauff’s reaction was filled with excitement and gratitude. Taking to her Instagram Story, she wrote, “WOWWWWWWW NO WAY SOMEONE FOUND THIS. THAT IS ME WATCHING VENUS at the US Open. Didn’t even know the TV caught me in the stands. Whoever found this, shoutout to you ong (on God). THIS IS CRAZY. Time flies.” She went on to add a humorous note, mentioning how she was probably looking at the jumbotron to see if the camera was on her, reflecting the awe and joy she felt as a young fan in the stands.
Later, Gauff reposted the image on X (formerly Twitter), sharing an inspiring message for her followers: “If this isn’t proof that your dreams are closer than you think, then idk what is.” This post resonated deeply with her fans and the broader tennis community, as it highlighted the surreal nature of Gauff’s journey—from a young girl dreaming of tennis glory to a player who has already achieved so much at just 20 years old.
Venus Williams, ever gracious and supportive, responded to Gauff’s admiration during a guest appearance on the “Tamron Hall Show.” When the host showed her the viral photo of Gauff as a young girl in the stands, Venus expressed her delight and pride in seeing Gauff’s success. “I mean, it’s so exciting to see her just like… explode. She is fantastic, and of course, I hope she wins every match,” Venus said with a smile. Her support for Gauff is especially meaningful given how both Venus and her sister Serena had similar meteoric rises early in their careers, making it easy to see why Gauff has been so keen on following in their footsteps.
The Williams sisters’ success has clearly left a lasting impact on Gauff, who has spoken extensively about how much she looked up to them as role models. Gauff’s admiration for Venus and Serena has been a driving force in her pursuit of becoming a Grand Slam champion, something she accomplished in 2023. By the age of 20, Gauff had reached two Grand Slam finals, secured one major title, and achieved a career-high ranking of world No. 2. Reflecting on Gauff’s achievements, Venus emphasized the importance of hard work, perseverance, and belief in oneself. “You have to dream. It doesn’t mean that there won’t be turns along the way or ups and downs, but as long as you have your north star… you have to dream big,” Venus said, offering timeless advice not just to Gauff but to anyone with big ambitions.
Gauff’s reverence for the Williams sisters came into focus once again after her historic win at the 2023 US Open. The tournament, which had marked Serena Williams’ farewell just a year prior, became another milestone for American tennis as Gauff lifted her first Grand Slam trophy in front of her home crowd. Her victory over Aryna Sabalenka in the final—a gritty 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 triumph—was a testament to her resilience and skill.
In her on-court speech after winning the US Open, Gauff took the time to acknowledge the enormous influence Venus and Serena had on her career. “Yes, it’s crazy. I mean, they’re the reason why I have this trophy today, to be honest. They have allowed me to believe in this dream, growing up,” Gauff said. She went on to note that when she was younger, there weren’t many Black tennis players dominating the sport, and Venus and Serena were the trailblazers she looked up to. “It was literally, at that time, just them. Obviously, more came because of their legacy. So it made the dream more believable,” she added, recognizing the doors the Williams sisters opened for players like herself.
Gauff also reflected on the struggles Venus and Serena faced throughout their careers, mentioning Serena’s challenges at Indian Wells and Venus’s fight for equal pay. “But all the things that they had to go through, they made it easier for someone like me to do this,” Gauff said, humbly crediting their legacy for her own success.
Despite having played Venus twice and winning both encounters, Gauff expressed her one lingering regret: never getting the opportunity to face Serena on the court. For a young girl who grew up idolizing the Williams sisters, it would have been a dream to go head-to-head with the woman who inspired her to chase greatness.
In just a few short years, Coco Gauff has cemented herself as one of the brightest stars in tennis. And with the continued support of her idols, Venus and Serena, she is poised to carry their legacy forward, inspiring future generations just as they inspired her.