Coco Gauff, the young American tennis sensation, recently opened up about the profound influence Serena and Venus Williams have had on her journey in the sport. The 20-year-old, who has already accomplished remarkable feats on the court—including her historic first Grand Slam singles victory at the 2023 US Open—spoke candidly in a video produced by Baker Tilly about the challenges she has faced as a young Black athlete in a predominantly white sport. Her reflections not only shed light on her personal experiences but also underscore the legacy of the Williams sisters, who have paved the way for a new generation of diverse talent in tennis.
Gauff’s rise in the tennis world has been meteoric. From an early age, she demonstrated a natural talent and passion for the sport, leading to her eventual breakthrough on the global stage. In 2023, she captured the US Open title, marking a significant milestone in her career and solidifying her status as a top contender on the WTA tour. That victory helped propel her to a career-high world No. 2 ranking during the summer of 2024, a testament to her hard work, resilience, and undeniable skill. In addition to her Grand Slam success, Gauff has already secured eight WTA singles titles, establishing herself as one of the brightest stars in women’s tennis.
However, as Gauff explains, her path to the top was not without its challenges. In the Baker Tilly video, she spoke openly about the difficulties she encountered as a young Black girl navigating the elite world of tennis. “Finding myself was difficult,” she admitted. “Being Black in tennis is, sometimes you do stick out like a sore thumb. Like in the Black community, tennis is not a huge thing. Nobody really knew anything about it. I had mentioned that I play tennis but nobody cared.”
This sense of feeling like an outsider, Gauff suggested, is not uncommon for Black athletes in a sport traditionally dominated by white players. However, she emphasized that having trailblazers like Serena and Venus Williams to look up to made all the difference. “I feel like for me, having role models like Serena and Venus to look up to made a difference,” she said. “Honestly, I just remember watching Venus at the US Open. My dad got second-row tickets and we were so close and that was a cool thing. That’s what pushes me to keep going. Just because the sport is predominantly white, you believe you can do that passion when you see somebody that looks like you being successful.”
Gauff’s admiration for the Williams sisters is well-known, and she has often credited them with inspiring her to pursue her dreams in tennis. The significance of the Williams sisters in the sport cannot be overstated. Venus Williams, with her seven Grand Slam singles titles, was a trailblazer in her own right, breaking down barriers and challenging norms in a sport that had seen few Black women reach the highest levels. Her younger sister Serena took that legacy even further, dominating the sport for over two decades and winning a record-breaking 23 Grand Slam singles titles in the Open Era. Together, Venus and Serena also captured 14 Grand Slam doubles titles, showcasing their unique bond and incredible chemistry on the court. Their achievements have not only transformed the sport but also inspired countless young athletes, including Gauff, to believe that they, too, could succeed on the biggest stages.
Gauff’s personal connection to the Williams sisters is more than just admiration from afar. In 2019, at the age of just 15, Gauff made headlines when she defeated Venus Williams in the opening round of Wimbledon. The victory was a symbolic passing of the torch, as the young Gauff, who had grown up idolizing Venus, emerged as a new force in women’s tennis. Two years later, Gauff had the opportunity to partner with Venus in doubles at the 2021 French Open, a moment she described as a dream come true. These experiences, she says, continue to drive her forward in her career, as she hopes to inspire the next generation just as the Williams sisters inspired her.
“What makes me unique? I mean we’re all one of one, so we’re all unique,” Gauff reflected in the Baker Tilly video. “There’s never going to be another one of me and there’s never going to be another one of anybody. That’s a cool thing to think about… Hopefully, I can be that belief for somebody else.” Her words highlight not only her individual journey but also the broader importance of representation in sports. Seeing athletes who look like you achieve greatness can ignite a passion that might otherwise remain dormant. For Gauff, the sight of Serena and Venus dominating the courts made her believe that she, too, could carve out a space for herself in the sport.
As she continues to grow both on and off the court, Gauff has embraced her role as a trailblazer for the next generation. She is aware of the significance of her own achievements and how they resonate with aspiring athletes who may not see themselves represented in traditional sports settings. Her visibility and success serve as a beacon of hope, showing that diversity has a place in the world of tennis. Gauff’s journey, still in its early stages, is already inspiring countless young players to pick up a racket and believe in their potential.
In just a few short years, Coco Gauff has gone from being a young fan watching Venus Williams from the second row at the US Open to becoming one of the top players in the world, holding her own Grand Slam trophy and playing alongside her idols. Her story is a testament to the power of representation, mentorship, and perseverance. As she continues to write her own legacy in the sport, Gauff remains grounded in the values that first inspired her to chase her dreams, hoping that she can make the same difference for the next wave of tennis stars that Serena and Venus made for her.