Over the past few years, Coco Gauff has learned quite a bit from watching Serena Williams. Gauff jokes about missing out on some parts of her idol’s career because she is young enough to be her daughter.
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Serena Williams, the 23-time Grand Slam champion who is expected to retire after the US Open, will face Danka Kovinic in the tournament’s first round on Tuesday.
Coco Gauff reveals she played a young version of Serena Williams
Gauff was asked to recall the first time she met Williams during the press conference ahead of the US Open, where she was the youngest player in the draw. She revealed how she met her idol, Serena Williams, for the first time. It was in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida when Gauff was just a 9-year-old kid.
During the US Open press conference, Coco Gauff recalls her first meeting with her idol, Serena Williams. “Yeah, so I first met Serena, she definitely doesn’t know this, I think I was 9 or 10 years old.”
“They needed a stunt double to play a young version of her just the face down. I think it was for a Delta commercial,” she added.
ALSO READ- ‘I Was Lying’ – Coco Gauff Says She Doesn’t Want to Be the ‘Next Serena’
Gauff also revealed how she earned her first paycheck because of her tennis idol appearing in a commercial. “I don’t think they ever used it, but that was, like, my first check I ever got as a kid (laughter). She doesn’t know this, but the first money I ever made for myself was because of her doing a commercial (laughter).”
“I met her. I stopped by her trailer, took a picture. She probably doesn’t even know.”
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Who will Gauff compete against at the US Open?
Coco Gauff is ranked 12th in the world. She has been given a fairly straightforward draw in the season’s final Grand Slam tournament. In the first round, she will face Leolia Jeanjean of France. Furthermore, if she survives the first round, she will face the winner of the second round match between Daria Saville and Elena Gabriela Ruse.
Coco Gauff, who is only 18 years old, has risen through the ranks to become a part of the WTA Tour’s elite group of tennis players. She had a fantastic season, reaching the French Open finals in both singles and doubles. She also reached new heights by topping the WTA doubles rankings.
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