What does it feel like to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with your idol? Just ask Coco Gauff. The 21-year-old tennis star had a full-circle moment at the 2025 Oscars, posing alongside none other than the GOAT, Serena Williams. The two share a deep connection—one that goes back over a decade. Gauff first met Williams when she was just 9 or 10 years old, playing a young Serena in a Delta commercial. That was a dream come true for a little girl who had always looked up to the 23-time Grand Slam champion. Fast forward to Hollywood’s biggest night, and the two icons were side by side once again!

For the occasion, Gauff dazzled in a custom yellow Miu Miu gown with crystal embroidery, accessorized with dangling earrings. She later switched things up for the Vanity Fair After Party, wearing a stunning yellow and green gown. Meanwhile, Serena Williams stunned in a sequined, sleeveless, black Dolce and Gabbana gown with a thigh-high slit. She paired it with a black stone necklace. The duo posed together in their glamorous avatar at the after party as Gauff shared the snapshot on her Instagram story.

It was a night of glitz, glamour, and celebration. But for Gauff, the moment with Williams meant something even deeper. Tennis was always in the cards for Gauff, thanks to Serena’s influence. Her father, Corey Gauff, once revealed on The Sit-Down Podcast that his daughter’s tennis journey began after he watched Williams win the 2010 Australian Open. At the time, Coco was just five years old. That moment sparked a dream that eventually became a reality. She has always credited Williams for paving the way for young Black girls in tennis. On media day at the 2023 US Open, she paid a heartfelt tribute to her idol. “Before Serena came along, there was not really an icon of the sport that looked like me,” Gauff said. “So growing up, I never thought that I was different because the No. 1 player in the world was somebody who looked like me. I think that’s the biggest thing that I can take from what I’ve learned from Serena.”

And like a true successor, the 21-year-old has already matched various records of the 23-time Grand Slam champion. Gauff’s 2023 US Open victory made her the first American teenager to win the title since Williams in 1999. And in 2024, she became the first American to win the WTA Finals since Serena Williams did it in 2014.

Hence, the picture holds weight. But after a night of Hollywood magic, it was time to get back to the grind.

Coco Gauff gets back to the ‘tennis world’ after Hollywood glitz and glam

Coco Gauff kicked off her 2025 season in style, leading Team USA to victory at the United Cup. But since then, it’s been a bit of a rough patch. The American tennis starlet was knocked out in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open by Paula Badosa. She then had a disappointing run at the Qatar Open, where she was ousted by Marta Kostyuk in the second round. At the Dubai Tennis Championships, also she faced an early exit. The World No.3 shockingly lost to McCartney Kessler in straight sets in the second round. Now, for the first time in two years, Gauff is heading into Indian Wells on a three-match losing streak.

But she’s not losing hope. Even at the Oscars red carpet, she had tennis on her mind. The 21-year-old tennis star talked about her experience and said, “It was definitely overwhelming, something I’m not used to but it was super cool to just be here and experience it and step out of the sporting world. But I have my sneakers on for tomorrow.”

Just a few days ago, she was spotted training at the University of California in Los Angeles, gearing up for the tournament. She even gave fans a glimpse into her preparations, sharing a picture on her Instagram Stories. Dressed in an all-pink jacket and track pants, she captioned it, “lol and just like that we are back in the tennis world.”

The Indian Wells tournament kicks off on March 6, and last year, the 21-year-old tennis star was just within arm’s reach of the title. She made it all the way to the semifinals, battling through the draw. But in a tense three-set showdown, she fell short against Maria Sakkari. Can the World No.3 turn it around this year and go back to her winning ways?