Never back down! Coco Gauff recently clinched victory from the jaws of a defeat in Riyadh. The 20-year-old American star defeated China’s Qinwen Zheng 3-6,6-4,7-6(2) – becoming the youngest player to win the WTA Finals since Maria Sharapova in 2004. She has now also become the youngest American since Serena Williams in 2001 to win this tournament. Previously, we heard Gauff say, “Being in the same stat line as her (Serena) means a lot to me.” Both the Williams sisters have played a major role in inspiring Coco Gauff in her tennis journey.  What did Gauff say after seeing her name beside Serena Williams following her triumph at the 2024 WTA Finals?

After the match, we saw Coco Gauff literally venting out her emotions by dropping to the floor and screaming out loud in a sigh of relief. What a match it was! She then got up and shook hands with Qinwen Zheng and the chair umpire before returning to the coach to celebrate her victory with the crowd. This season has been a mix of good and bad for Coco Gauff, but now she must be very pleased to end the year on the highest note! With this victory, she has now also become the first American to win the WTA Finals singles title since Serena Williams in 2014.

Shortly after this emphatic triumph, Coco Gauff shared an IG story highlighting the record with a caption saying, “an honor ❤️.” Serena Williams has always played the role of a “friend and mentor” for Coco Gauff. When Gauff became the first American teenager to win the US Open singles title since Serena Williams, she labeled Williams as the “GOAT.” She said, “Serena is Serena. She’s the GOAT. I’d hope to do half of what she did. But I’m not going to compare myself to her. She’s someone that I look up to.“

Both Coco Gauff and Williams sisters have been an inspiration for all aspiring tennis players, especially Black athletes. They are the perfect examples of how with sheer determination, one can easily break every barrier and prove their mettle remarkably. How did Serena and Venus Williams make a strong impact on Gauff’s career?

Coco Gauff reflects her love and admiration for the Williams sisters

In October 2024, Coco Gauff appeared in an interview with Baker Tilly and during that interview, she spoke about how “difficult” it was to navigate the world of tennis during the early phases of her career. While speaking on that, she also revealed how Serena and Venus Williams “made a difference” in her tennis career. She said, “Like in the Black community, tennis is not a huge thing. Nobody really knew anything about it. I had mentioned that I play tennis but nobody cared. But I feel like for me, having role models like Serena and Venus to look up to made a difference.“

Then she recalled the moment of watching Venus Williams at the US Open and stated, “That’s what pushes me to keep going. Just because the sport is predominantly white, you believe you can do that passion when you see somebody that looks like you being successful.” Coco Gauff got the chance to play doubles with Venus Willimas at the French Open in 2021 after beating her in the opening round of the 2019 Wimbledon Championship as a 15-year-old. However, there is a regret that she still has to carry on her shoulders! What’s it?

Speaking about Serena Williams, Gauff once said, “She’s my idol and I think the only regret I’ll have for the rest of my life is not being able to play her.” She has time and again revealed that they are the reasons why she started playing tennis. Gauff realized that even she could also dominate the sport, like the Williams sisters. Seeing her recent domination in Riyadh over other notable WTA stars, makes us wonder whether Serena Williams has ever shared a word of praise for this youngster.

Well, she did share a word on Coco Gauff in 2020 at the press conference at the AO. Williams said, “She’s just impressive all around. I was nowhere near her level at 15 either on the court or off the court, not even close.” Do you think Coco Gauff is the next big thing in the American women’s tennis world?