Serena Williams may have put down her racquet, but her presence is still felt in every serve, every rally, and every victory on the tennis court. Her legacy, built on power, resilience, and an unstoppable will, resonates deeply with fans and players alike. And among her most devoted admirers is the young American sensation Coco Gauff. Gauff, who grew up watching Serena dominate the sport, often reflects on what Williams’ journey means to her personally—and to women’s tennis as a whole. And this admiration was reflected yet again in Riyadh. 

The American tennis sensation is on a remarkable run at the WTA Finals so far. She baffled Jessica Pegula in the first match in straight sets and is currently taking on Iga Swiatek in Riyadh. But besides her on-court marvels, what is capturing the attention of fans is her remarkable admiration for Williams. In a video posted by WTA’s official YouTube Channel, Gauff can be seen answering some questions as players joined to recall some past aspects of their lives. And when asked about a memory related to the tennis great, Williams, Gauff did not make any mistakes.

In the interview, Gauff was quizzed about when she uploaded her first Instagram post. Answering the question with utmost confidence she said,  “2016.” She further detailed the post and revealed, “I think it was a picture of me and Serena Williams.” In a photo posted on September 21, 2016, on Instagram, the 12-year-old Gauff can be seen standing in a red outfit with Williams who was wearing a black attire. The post has around 400 comments. 

The correct detailing of the post reveals how great of a Serena Williams fan is Gauff and her admiration that has continued to remain intact. For the unversed, the 20-year-old has often admired Williams and revealed how she motivated her in her career, and one of the recent examples of this was witnessed in July this year. 

Gauff recently penned a note to her 17-year-old self in an exclusive for NBC Olympics. She revealed how she evolved as a player and how much the American WTA star “relish the relationships” with her teammates. Gauff wrote that she feels “lucky” that her “on-court relationships have turned into off-court friendships.” She highlighted how her idol turned into a mentor for her and expressed pride in her achievement. “One of those notable friendships is with your idol, Serena Williams. Serena was once just a stranger printed on a poster hanging in your room, and now you still can’t believe she’s a friend and mentor,” Gauff wrote.

But interestingly, despite the immense admiration that she has depicted for Williams, Gauff does not wish to emulate the tennis great. 

“Never Said” – When Coco Gauff made her stance clear on comparisons with Serena Williams

Both Coco Gauff and Serena Williams have been an inspiration for budding tennis players, especially black athletes. They proved that with sheer determination, one can break every barrier and prove their mettle remarkably. However, despite the similarities, Gauff has revealed that she does not wish to become like Serena Williams.  

In May this year, the World No. 3 shared a video of an interview in which she talked about dreaming big and chasing records. She highlighted that she wanted to be her own authentic self and carve out a legacy and not just emulate the 23-time Grand Slam champion. “People compare me to Serena, but I’ve never said, I want to be her. I just want to be me. I want to have my own story. My life, my rule is to just dream big and let’s see what.” Gauff said. In another interview with People in 2023, she opened up about the comparisons and said, that she is “not trying to fulfill those footsteps whatsoever.” Continuing further, she highlighted “Obviously, I do want to be the best version of myself and be the best that I can be.” 

But for now, the focus is on Coco Gauff’s ongoing campaign in the WTA Finals. Can she win big in Riyadh and return with a title? Well, only time will tell.