America’s Jessica Pegula Shuts Down Coco Gauff’s Comparison With ‘Goat’ Serena Williams in a Staggering Verdict – ‘A Long Way to Grow..’

Even when you’re a world-renowned sports star, the comparisons never stop. In her recent statement, the world No.5 Jessica Pegula shared an interesting opinion directed at America’s rising star and her best friend Coco Gauff. She also mentioned Gauff’s comparisons to the retired legend Serena Williams and her time in tennis. Pegula, in her way, helped her friend out by diminishing the burden of competing with a legend. 

This year’s WTA Finals are seemingly engaging and thrilling. Pegula recently beat Maria Sakkari in the group stage with a convincing 6-3 6-2 scoreline. Post her win, she was asked many questions. However, one in particular prompted her to give quite a practical answer.

Jessica Pegula talks about Coco Gauff 

In the midst of the action-packed WTA Finals, Jessica Pegula faced a thought-provoking question. She was asked about the state of American women’s tennis. The interviewer, inquiring about the post-Serena era, asked Pegula if she felt the pressure to become the new American tennis sensation. Her response carried an air of wisdom. “No, I don’t because I’m 10 years older.” Pegula recognized the stark age gap between her and the young prodigy, Coco Gauff. 

Pegula acknowledged Gauff’s remarkable achievement of winning the US Open. Her humility shone through as she emphasized that there was no competition between them. Pegula went on to express her admiration for Serena Williams while addressing the comparison often drawn between Gauff and the 23-time Grand Slam champion. 

She firmly believed that filling Serena’s shoes was an insurmountable task. She praised the ‘Queen of the Court’ as the “GOAT” and said, “I don’t think it’s possible to fill those shoes probably ever”. However, her tone shifted when she discussed Coco Gauff. Pegula was brimming with optimism as she declared Gauff as both the present and the future of American tennis. 

READ MORE: Jessica Pegula Set to Emulate Serena Williams’ Marvelous 2013 Feat as She Continues to Make Inroads at the WTA Finals

She foresaw a long and promising journey ahead for the young star. She even suggested that as long as Gauff remained healthy and competitive, she would continue to contend for titles for many more years. Despite distancing herself from the role of a Serena successor, Pegula expressed her happiness in representing American tennis.

Pegula on Serena Williams’ greatness

Coco Gauff’s remarkable rise to prominence naturally led to comparisons with the legendary Serena Williams. The interviewer probed Pegula on this parallel, asking if she believed Gauff could fill Serena’s shoes. Pegula responded by acknowledging Serena as an entity of her own and emphasizing that no one could replicate her stature in the tennis world. 

Pegula humbly confessed that she believed filling Serena’s shoes was an unattainable feat, perhaps an endeavor that would remain unrealized forever. Yet Pegula expressed her unwavering faith in Gauff’s abilities. She saw Gauff as a unique figure, the “present and the future” of American tennis, signifying that her journey was distinct from Serena’s. 

In this juxtaposition of Gauff and Serena, Pegula underlined the reverence she held for both tennis icons and the unmatched legacy that Serena Williams had etched into the history of the sport. What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments. 

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