Coco Gauff funnily reveals she did not initially take note of Serena Williams once they first met as a result of she did not imagine that it was really the American tennis icon however moderately somebody who resembled her.
Over time, the 20-year-old has spoken quite a few occasions about how a lot she used to idolize and look as much as the Williams sisters. And apparently, her first assembly along with her idol got here fairly unexpectedly – they each occurred to be in the identical place on the identical time.
After realizing that the particular person she seen was certainly Serena, Gauff felt ecstatic. Then she acquired some recommendation from the previous 23-time Grand Slam champion.
“Serena was really capturing a business on the identical place I used to be practising. I noticed any individual strolling, and I believed it was a stunt double of her or one thing. So I’m like: ‘That appears like Serena and he or she’s strolling over right here’. I type of didn’t pay any consideration to it, after which I noticed it was her and I used to be so excited. She came to visit to simply give me recommendation and converse to me,” the 2023 US Open champion stated on Hair Me Out posted on the Refinery29 YouTube channel.
All through their careers, Serena and Venus have been by no means afraid to proudly characterize Black tradition and experiment with totally different kinds on the court docket. Now, Gauff is following of their footsteps.
“I look as much as Serena, to her seems to be and her hair, and the way she was by no means afraid to indicate her curls or her braids. For me, I need to be as numerous with my hair as I will be. I like to put on my curls… since you look good and you are feeling good. It nearly makes you carry out higher,” the world No. 3 added.
Williams lately dropped a serious reward on Gauff
As talked about above, the 20-year-old has quite a few occasions spoken very extremely of Serena and confirmed main respect and appreciation for the previous world No. 1. And in one in every of her latest interviews, the 43-year-old returned the favor and dropped a serious praise when requested concerning the present top-ranked American feminine tennis participant.
“Coco has a large tennis IQ. I believe she actually makes use of her mind on the market. I believe she will be able to actually depend on her serve. Clearly, her motion is nice. And I simply love her psychological toughness and her psychological fortitude,” Williams stated.
1999 was the 12 months when the American tennis legend grew to become a Grand Slam champion on the US Open. 23 years later, that was the place the place one of many biggest tennis careers got here to an finish.
A 12 months after Williams’ retirement, Gauff lifted her first Grand Slam title in New York and have become the primary American teenager to win the US Open since her idol. Through the trophy presentation, the 20-year-old talked about Serena and Venus and famous that they have been a giant purpose why she was standing there that day.
Gauff lately paid one other tribute to the Williams sisters
At the same time as a child, the present eight-time WTA champion was conscious that tennis wasn’t the most well-liked of sports activities among the many Black inhabitants and that it was predominantly white. However after studying about Serena and Venus’ background – from the place they got here and what they achieved – the 2023 US Open winner was decided to observe of their footsteps.
“What makes me distinctive? I imply we’re all one in every of one, so we’re all distinctive. There’s by no means going to be one other one in every of me and there’s by no means going to be one other one in every of anyone. That’s a cool factor to consider… Discovering myself was troublesome. Being Black in tennis is, generally you do stick out like a sore thumb. Like within the Black group, tennis just isn’t an enormous factor. No one actually knew something about it. I had talked about that I play tennis however no one cared,” Gauff defined in a video for Baker Tilly US.
“However I really feel like for me, having function fashions like Serena and Venus to look as much as made a distinction. Actually, I simply keep in mind watching Venus on the US Open. My dad received second-row tickets and we have been so shut and that was a cool factor. That’s what pushes me to maintain going. Simply because the game is predominantly white, you imagine you are able to do that zeal while you see any individual that appears such as you being profitable. Hopefully, I will be that perception for any individual else.”
In the meantime, Gauff is at the moment in Riyadh, the place she is getting ready to kick off her third consecutive look on the WTA Finals. In her opening match in Saudi Arabia, she is going to tackle fellow American and good pal Jessica Pegula.
Gauff’s group additionally contains Iga Swiatek and Barbora Krejcikova.
