Coco Gauff, the 21-year-old American tennis prodigy, has once again captured the spotlight, not just for her on-court brilliance but for her grounded perspective on her place in the sport. Fresh off her monumental victory at the 2025 French Open, where she became the first American woman to win the title since Serena Williams in 2015, Gauff has addressed the persistent comparisons to the 23-time Grand Slam champion. In a heartfelt and candid reflection, she called such parallels “unfair,” emphasizing her desire to carve her own path while honoring the legacy of her idol. “I understand why people compare us, but I think it’s just important that I want to be known as Coco,” Gauff said, her words echoing a young athlete determined to define her own identity.
Gauff’s journey to tennis stardom began at a remarkably young age. At 15, she burst onto the scene at the 2019 Wimbledon Championships, defeating Venus Williams in the first round and reaching the fourth round as a qualifier. Her meteoric rise drew immediate comparisons to Serena Williams, whose unparalleled career—marked by 23 Grand Slam singles titles and a transformative impact on the sport—set an almost unattainable benchmark. Yet, Gauff’s achievements speak for themselves. Her 2023 US Open triumph, where she defeated Aryna Sabalenka to claim her first major title, made her the first American teenager to win the event since Williams in 1999. Her 2025 French Open victory, a gritty comeback against Sabalenka (6-7(5), 6-2, 6-4), further solidified her status as a global star. At Roland Garros, she became the youngest American to secure 20 victories in the Open Era, surpassing a record previously held by Williams.
Despite her accolades, Gauff has faced challenges, particularly with her serve and forehand, which have drawn scrutiny from critics. Her 2024 season was marred by serving woes, including a staggering 23 double faults in a single match against Danielle Collins at the National Bank Open in Montreal. Rennae Stubbs, Serena Williams’ former coach, has pointed out technical flaws in Gauff’s second serve and service motion, noting, “Under pressure, bad technique breaks down.” Yet, Stubbs remains optimistic, suggesting that keeping double faults below six per match could propel Gauff to dominate tournaments like the WTA Finals. Rick Macci, another former coach of Williams, has also weighed in, praising Gauff’s mental fortitude as “beyond elite” and asserting that her serving issues could be fixed “in less than a week” with the right tweaks.
Gauff’s admiration for Serena Williams runs deep. She has often credited both Williams sisters for inspiring her career, particularly for showing that Black players can thrive in a predominantly white sport. “They’re the reason why I have this trophy today, to be honest,” Gauff said after her 2023 US Open win, acknowledging the barriers Venus and Serena broke down. Her first encounter with Serena, during a commercial shoot, was a surreal moment—she initially mistook the legend for a stunt double. “I saw somebody walking, and I thought it was a stunt double of her or something,” Gauff recalled with a laugh. That moment, coupled with her training at Patrick Mouratoglou’s academy—where Serena’s longtime coach spotted Gauff’s potential at age 10—underscored the deep connection she feels to her idol.
Yet, Gauff is resolute in forging her own legacy. “I am never going to be Serena Williams and Serena will never be me because we are two different people,” she stated firmly. Her regret at never facing Serena on the court remains a poignant note in her career. “The only regret I’ll have for the rest of my life is not being able to play her,” she admitted after reaching the 2023 US Open final. Instead, Gauff focuses on her own goals, from winning more Grand Slams to inspiring the next generation. Her recent successes, including the 2024 China Open and WTA Finals titles, have positioned her as world No. 3, with Macci boldly predicting she will one day reach No. 1.
As Gauff prepares for the 2025 US Open, where she aims to defend her 2023 title, she carries the weight of expectations but remains undeterred. Her resilience, showcased in her ability to overcome a set deficit against Sabalenka in Paris, and her candidness about her growth—“I’m playing with solutions; I know what I need to work on”—highlight a maturity beyond her years. While comparisons to Serena Williams may persist, Gauff’s story is uniquely her own, a testament to her talent, grit, and unwavering commitment to being “just Coco.”
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