Coco Gauff has often spoken about how Serena and Venus Williams are not just legendary athletes to her but symbols of inspiration, resilience, and hope. For Gauff, they represent more than just tennis success; they are the trailblazers who showed that a young Black girl from a non-traditional tennis background could rise to the pinnacle of a predominantly white sport. As the current World No. 3 and the top-ranked American female tennis player, Gauff is eager to continue the legacy that the Williams sisters began, hoping to inspire the next generation as they did for her.
The Impact of the Williams Sisters: More Than Just Champions
Before Coco Gauff was even born, the Williams sisters were already rewriting the history of tennis. By the early 2000s, both Serena and Venus had established themselves as Grand Slam champions, defying the odds as two young African American women from Compton, a neighborhood infamous for its crime and poverty. They did not come from a wealthy background, and their rise to the top of a sport that has traditionally been dominated by athletes from more privileged backgrounds was nothing short of extraordinary. Their success shattered stereotypes and opened doors, making them icons not just in tennis but in sports and society at large.
Growing up, Gauff was acutely aware of what the Williams sisters had accomplished. She watched them dominate the courts, overcome injuries, and navigate the highs and lows of public life while remaining true to themselves. This, Gauff says, gave her the confidence to pursue tennis seriously, even though, in her own words, “being Black in tennis is, sometimes you do stick out like a sore thumb.” In a sport where she sometimes felt like an outsider, the Williams sisters became her guiding lights.
### From a Young Fan to a Role Model
One of Gauff’s most cherished memories is watching Venus Williams play at the US Open. As a young girl, her father managed to get second-row tickets, allowing Gauff to witness her idol up close. “I just remember watching Venus at the US Open. My dad got second-row tickets, and we were so close. That was a cool thing. That’s what pushes me to keep going,” Gauff recalled in a recent interview for Baker Tilly US. It was a defining moment for her—a moment that reinforced her belief that someone who looked like her could make it to the highest levels of the sport.
Now, at just 20 years old, Gauff has already made significant strides in her own career. Her breakthrough moment came at the 2019 Wimbledon when, as a 15-year-old, she stunned Venus Williams in a historic match. Gauff later described that victory as “the pivotal moment in my life,” not only because of what it meant to her career but also because it was a symbolic passing of the torch from one generation of Black tennis stars to the next. Today, Gauff is a Grand Slam champion, having won the 2023 US Open, and she is determined to use her platform to inspire young Black children to pick up a racket and chase their dreams.
“What makes me unique? I mean we’re all one of one, so we’re all unique. 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,” Gauff said, acknowledging the importance of embracing individuality while also recognizing her role as a visible and influential figure in a predominantly white sport. “Hopefully, I can be that belief for somebody else,” she added.
### A Special Connection With Venus
Earlier this year, Gauff experienced a heartwarming moment when a fan unearthed a photo of her as an eight-year-old girl, watching Venus Williams play at the 2012 US Open. Gauff was ecstatic to see the image, sharing it on her Instagram Story with a message full of nostalgia and excitement. “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,” Gauff wrote. She reflected on how time flies and how far she’s come since those days of being a young fan in the stands, dreaming of becoming a professional tennis player.
Venus Williams was shown the photo during a recent appearance on the *Tamron Hall Show*. The seven-time Grand Slam champion was visibly moved, praising Gauff’s meteoric rise and expressing her admiration for the young star. “I mean it’s so exciting to see her just like… explode. She is fantastic, and of course, I hope she wins every match,” said Venus. The elder Williams sister emphasized the importance of dreaming big and staying resilient, highlighting Gauff’s journey as a perfect example of how dreams can come true.
“Exactly. And you have to dream,” Venus said, elaborating on the unpredictable nature of chasing goals. “Doesn’t mean that there won’t be turns all the way of the dream or someday there’s gonna be ups and downs, but as long as you have your north star… And there’s times when you have to figure out how to do it another way. But all that is a part of… you have to dream big.”
### Gauff’s Mission to Inspire the Next Generation
Gauff’s relationship with the Williams sisters goes beyond admiration; it’s about carrying forward a mission. Just as Serena and Venus broke barriers, Gauff wants to ensure that her success becomes a beacon of hope for others, particularly Black children who might not see tennis as an accessible or welcoming sport. Growing up, she felt that tennis was an unfamiliar territory within the Black community. “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,” Gauff said. Yet, she continued to pursue her passion, fueled by the representation she saw in Serena and Venus.
Her 2023 US Open victory solidified her status as one of the leading figures in women’s tennis, and Gauff is now using her influence to advocate for diversity and inclusion within the sport. She understands the challenges that come with being a Black athlete in a predominantly white space, but she also knows the power of representation. Gauff hopes that her presence at the top of the sport will make it easier for the next generation to pick up a racket without feeling like an outsider.
### A Legacy in the Making
Coco Gauff’s journey is still in its early stages, but she is already thinking about the legacy she wants to leave behind. She envisions a future where tennis is more inclusive, where young kids of all backgrounds feel encouraged to take up the sport. She wants to be a role model, not just for her on-court achievements but for her perseverance, courage, and dedication to making tennis a sport for everyone.
As Gauff continues to rise through the ranks, the comparisons to Serena and Venus Williams will persist. However, Gauff is not interested in being the “next” Serena or Venus—she wants to be the first Coco Gauff. In doing so, she honors the Williams sisters’ legacy while carving out her own path, one that will inspire a new generation to dream, persevere, and know that success is possible, no matter the obstacles they face.