A Year After Serena Williams’ Last Dance, 19YO Coco Gauff Gets Real on Huge Expectations Heading Into the US Open – ‘Black People Look Up to Me’

With 73 singles titles under her belt,  Serena Williams has truly served as an inspiration for the next generation of black women in the sporting community. But now that she has departed the tennis court,  another African-American WTA player has realized her duties to fill the void left by the former tennis ace. It is none other than Serena’s young compatriot and the tennis prodigy, Coco Gauff who is being viewed as the most likely representative of the next generation of black female athletes in their nation.

Along with high expectations also comes a lot of pressure, which the 19-year-old youngster is experiencing. Emphasizing the same, the currently ranked world No. 6 American recently brought to light the pressure of being expected to take the reins as the “next leader” and following in the footsteps of the ‘Queen of the Court’.

Coco Gauff opens up about the pressure of emulating Serena Williams

The 19-year-old had a remarkable North American hardcourt swing season given her recent campaigns in Canada and Cincinnati. Coco Gauff concluded her stellar Canadian Open campaign by reaching the quarter-finals of the Masters 1000 event. Later, the American tennis prodigy also bagged her first WTA 1000 title by outperforming the world No. 1, Iga Swiatek in the Cincinnati Open.

Given her spectacular form in the hardcourt season, Gauff is now being viewed as one of the favorites the win the forthcoming Grand Slam event in her country. In the process, she is also bearing comparisons to her compatriot and the 6-time US Open champion, Serena Williams. And the young American player is certainly feeling the weight of expectations according to her recent revelations in the post-match press conference.

She said, “Sometimes I guess it increases the pressure because I know that this community of people, the community of people of color, black people, look up to me a lot.”

With the 41-year-old tennis legend having moved away from the women’s circuit, Gauff said that she is aware that the fans are now considering her as the “next leader” of tennis.

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In light of all these comparisons and expectations, the currently ranked world No. 6 has finally revealed that she and her best friend will emulate the Williams sisters’ legacy.

Gauff and Pegula set to follow in the footsteps of the Williams sisters

Even her close friend, Jessica Pegula had a great North American hardcourt swing season as she clinched the Canadian Open title. The popular tennis duo is undoubtedly doing wonders this season while making a slew of American fans proud of their accolades in the women’s circuit.

Gauff and Pegula have now managed to pull off a remarkable hardcourt triumph that even the Willaims sisters couldn’t achieve during their journey. Taking heed, the 19-year-old jokingly opened how their duo has now become the ‘next Serena and Venus’  while she also hailed the American tennis sisters for their remarkable contribution to their country.

Do you think Gauff will manage to emulate the American tennis legend’s legacy on the court? Let us know in the comments section.

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