Coco Gauff is ready to take the flame from her predecessors and burn it even brighter. After cherishing her maiden doubles grand slam win at Roland Garros, the WTA star wants to stake her claim at Wimbledon. After Serena Williams’ exit from the sport, Gauff is the current leading figure, hoping to bring more titles back to the US. Appreciating her efforts, the younger Williams’ sister was glad to have her in the current generation.

Serena Williams is set to be the host at this year’s ESPY Awards for the first time. In a recent teaser to share the announcement, the tennis legend took a moment to give fans a recap of the last season to the present day. The former tennis player talked about how the new generation of athletes is making their mark. Indirectly talking about the young sensation Coco Gauff, she said, “A year of inspiring a generation to become the next generation,” as visuals of Gauff lifting her maiden Grand Slam trophy appeared on the screen. Spoiler alert: The teaser has a Cross Sports spice to it!

Besides Gauff, the teaser offered a glimpse of a rising basketball star with a beaming smile, hinting at a potential crossover event. NCAA basketball witnessed a new superstar erupt in Caitlin Clark. During her dominant 2023-24 season with Iowa, Clark shattered the NCAA’s all-time scoring record, a feat that transcended gender barriers. Leading the Hawkeyes to a repeat appearance in the National Championship game, Clark narrowly missed securing back-to-back titles but solidified her reign by earning a second consecutive National Player of the Year award.

While Serena Williams appreciated Coco Gauff for “inspiring a generation”, Gauff’s thoughts on being a motivation for the enthusiasts show she carries a similar panache as her idol. During a previous interview, the 20-year-old stated, “I want to stand up for people who look like me and feel like they don’t have a voice. And I’m lucky enough that some people in the world care about what I have to say. So I try to make sure that I say it and say it in a correct way, or in a way that people understand.”

With her growing portfolio and influential image, it seems like Coco Gauff is the bearer of the inspirational torch after Serena Williams. However, it isn’t just Serena who considers the young American as an example for the youth.

Billie Jean King considers her efforts successful with Coco Gauff’s victory

The prize money disparity between men’s and women’s tennis was one aspect of the sport that saw many stars taking a stand. While there were many who fought against such inequality, Billie Jean King was the most influential figure who took charge and managed to fix these issues. The fight took a long time to succeed, and therefore, the legend felt proud when she saw Coco Gauff emerge victorious.

“Coco winning was just fantastic. When I see her, she’s the reason we fought so hard 50 years ago,” she said, mentioning how the result that Gauff attained was what she strived for. Adding details about why she thinks the 20-year-old is the perfect influential figure, King said it was “because of her background and care for social justice.””

Coco Gauff is currently on a path to grow her tennis career. While she has started to inspire people at such a young age, she not only stands as a champion but also as a figure that the young ones look up to.