Coco Gauff, the teenage tennis sensation from the United States, has been compared to one of the greatest tennis players of all time – Serena Williams. While Serena has been very much at the top of the game, Gauff has been making waves in the tennis world, and many believe that she is the next Serena Williams.
There are many reasons why Gauff is being compared to Williams. For one, she has shown an incredible level of skill and talent at such a young age. She burst onto the scene at just 15 years old, becoming the youngest player to qualify for Wimbledon in the Open era. She then went on to win her first-round match against Venus Williams, one of the all-time greats of the game.
we here. watching the 🐐. I love you @serenawilliams pic.twitter.com/VGMBT3LbUN
— Coco Gauff (@CocoGauff) August 29, 2022
Like Williams, Gauff has a powerful serve and a fierce competitive spirit. She also has a strong work ethic and a determination to succeed. Moreover, Gauff has the same mentor who coached Serena for a decade, Patrick Mouratoglou. He has often commented on her game and compared her to Williams, saying that she has the same drive and focus that Williams had when she was just starting. “She is progressing. Every time you see her she is better,” said Mourtaoglou.
Coco Gauff: Career trajectory
Gauff started young, at age 6 she held a tennis racket for the first time. She began competing in local and regional tournaments by the tender age of 10. In 2017, at the age of 13, She became the youngest-ever finalist in the girls’ singles at the US Open.
Gauff’s breakthrough came at Wimbledon in 2019 when she became the youngest player in the Open era to qualify for the main draw at just 15 years old. She then shocked the world by defeating one of her idols, Venus Williams, in the first round. She went on to win two more matches before losing to eventual champion Simona Halep in the fourth round. Her impressive performance at Wimbledon helped her rise up the rankings, finishing the year ranked No. 68 in the world.
In 2020, Gauff continued to make headlines, reaching the fourth round of the Australian Open. She did that so by yet another victory over Venus Williams. In 2021, Gauff reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open in women’s doubles. This is her best doubles record in a grand slam to date.
The future is bright, @CocoGauff ❤️#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/Txl0IkHoa3
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 4, 2022
The following year, in 2022, Coco Gauff reached the finals of Roland Garros. Iga Swiatek defeated her in straight sets to defend her title. Gauff reached her career-high ranking of no. 4 after the tournament.
As of March 2023, Gauff has a ranking of No. 6 in the world, making her the highest-ranked teenager in the world. She has already won three WTA singles titles and has a bright future ahead. Probably, someday, become the next Serena Williams and the first Coco Gauff.
