Coco Gauff reveals hilarious story about meeting Serena Williams for the first time and thinking she was a ‘stunt double’
Coco Gauff turned pro in 2018 and has never played against Serena Williams, who retired at the 2022 US Open.
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Coco Gauff, Serena Williams (Images via X)
Coco Gauff idolizes Serena Williams and recently revealed that she spoke for the first with the tennis legend. Gauff, who turned pro in 2018, never met Williams on the WTA Tour.
It was during a commercial that the 20-year-old got the chance to meet Williams. The youngster joked that when she saw Williams, she actually thought it was the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion’s stunt double.
Serena was actually shooting a commercial at the same place I was practicing. I saw somebody walking, and I thought it was a stunt double of hers or something. So I’m like: ‘That looks like Serena, and she’s walking over here’. I kind of didn’t pay any attention to it, and then I realized it was her, and I was so excited. She came over to just give me advice and speak to me.
Coco Gauff said (via Refinery29’s YouTube channel)
Gauff in many interviews talked about the influence of Serena Williams and Venus Williams on tennis and how the iconic sisters pushed her to keep going in a sport that is ‘predominantly white’. Williams retired after her 2022 US Open exit, while seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus, 44, is yet to hang up her racket.
In her career, apart from the 23 Grand Slam singles trophies, Serena also won 14 Grand Slam doubles and two mixed doubles. She is the only player to complete the Career Golden Slam in both singles and doubles.
Coco Gauff praises Serena Williams for showing her curls
Coco Gauff revealed how Serena Williams‘ hairstyle also inspired her. The 2023 US Open champion said that just like Williams, she loves to have curls while playing as it helps her to perform better.
I look up to Serena, to her looks and her hair, and how she was never afraid to show her curls or her braids. For me, I want to be as diverse with my hair as I can be.
Coco Gauff said (via Refinery29’s YouTube channel)
Gauff was last seen in action at the Wuhan Open where she reached the semifinals and lost to Aryna Sabalenka in three sets. She will now gear up for the WTA Finals in Riyadh and will kickstart her campaign against compatriot Jessica Pegula on November 3.
Gauff is also scheduled to face Barbora Krejcikova and Iga Swiatek. The World No. 3 is 48/15 on the season and won two titles, the ASB Classic and the China Open.
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Gouri Das
(4748 Articles Published)