As Coco Gauff navigates a stellar clay-court season at the 2025 French Open, the 21-year-old American tennis sensation took a moment to reflect on the giants of the sport who paved the way for her success. Tasked with naming her Mount Rushmore of American women’s tennis—a nod to the iconic South Dakota monument honoring four U.S. presidents—Gauff selected a quartet of legends whose monumental achievements have left an indelible mark on the game: Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Chris Evert, and Billie Jean King. These four, she said, represent the pinnacle of American women’s tennis, their legacies shaping not only the sport but also her own journey as a rising star.
Gauff’s selection is a testament to the towering influence of her chosen icons. Serena Williams, with her staggering 23 Grand Slam singles titles, redefined dominance in tennis, blending raw power with unmatched mental resilience. Her sister, Venus Williams, a seven-time Grand Slam champion, brought elegance and athleticism to the court, breaking barriers as one of the sport’s most influential figures. Together, the Williams sisters amassed countless doubles titles, their partnership a symbol of unity and excellence. Chris Evert, with 18 Grand Slam singles titles, including seven French Open crowns, set the standard for consistency and clay-court mastery in the 1970s and 1980s. Billie Jean King, a 12-time Grand Slam singles champion, transcended the sport with her advocacy for gender equality, most notably through her victory in the 1973 “Battle of the Sexes” against Bobby Riggs. “These women have all gone down in tennis history for their remarkable feats,” Gauff reflected, her admiration evident as she spoke during a break from her French Open campaign.
At just 21, Gauff herself is carving out a place among tennis’s elite. Currently ranked world No. 2, she has already claimed nine WTA singles titles, including the 2023 US Open, where she defeated Aryna Sabalenka in a thrilling three-set final to become the third American teenager to win the title in the Open Era. Her journey began with a seismic upset at 15, when she defeated her idol Venus Williams in the first round of the 2019 Wimbledon Championships, becoming the youngest player to qualify for the main draw in the tournament’s history. “I was just telling her thank you for everything she’s done for the sport,” Gauff said after that match, her voice trembling with emotion. “She’s been an inspiration for many people.” That victory sparked “Cocomania,” a wave of excitement that has followed her ever since.
Gauff’s 2025 clay-court season has been a showcase of her growing prowess. Despite falling to Sabalenka in the Madrid Open final and Jasmine Paolini in Rome, she arrived at Roland Garros with momentum, dispatching Australia’s Olivia Gadecki 6-2, 6-2 in the first round. Her second-round match against Tereza Valentova saw her overcome shaky serving to advance, a performance that drew praise for her resilience. Tennis legend Jim Courier has urged Gauff to elevate her game, while Chris Evert, one of her Mount Rushmore picks, emphasized the need to refine her serve to compete with the likes of Iga Swiatek, whom Gauff faced in the 2022 French Open final, losing 6-1, 6-3. “I’m still learning, still growing,” Gauff said, her focus unwavering as she prepares for a potential semifinal rematch with Mirra Andreeva, against whom she holds a 4-0 record.
The significance of Gauff’s Mount Rushmore choices extends beyond their on-court achievements. The Williams sisters, in particular, inspired her from a young age in Delray Beach, Florida, where she trained on the same Pompey Park courts they once did. “I grew up watching her,” Gauff said of Venus, crediting the sisters for showing her that a Black woman could dominate a predominantly white sport. Billie Jean King’s activism resonates with Gauff’s own commitment to social justice; in 2020, she spoke at a Black Lives Matter rally in Delray Beach, declaring, “If you are choosing silence, you’re choosing the side of the oppressor.” Evert’s technical brilliance, particularly on clay, aligns with Gauff’s aspirations to conquer Roland Garros, her favorite tournament due to Paris’s history and charm.
As Gauff progresses through the French Open, her Mount Rushmore serves as both a tribute and a motivator. With a 2024 French Open doubles title alongside Katerina Siniakova and a career-high doubles ranking of No. 1, she is already etching her name into tennis history. Off the court, her advocacy for equality and her community initiatives, like the USTA’s $3 million Legacy Initiative tied to her US Open win, reflect the influence of her idols. “I want to pour into the communities that poured into me,” Gauff said, echoing the legacy of King and the Williams sisters. As she chases a second Grand Slam title and an Olympic medal in 2025, Gauff’s Mount Rushmore stands as a reminder of the giants whose shoulders she stands on—and the heights she aims to reach.
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