Coco Gauff Doesn’t See Herself Following in Footsteps of Serena Williams and Venus Williams: “Don’t Think I’ll Be Playing in My 40s”

Coco Gauff will soon be seen in action in the ongoing Canadian Open, where she will also be chasing her first title of the season. After Toronto, she will be competing in Cincinnati, where two legends of the game will be making their comebacks.

And they are Serena Williams and Venus Williams. They received wild cards to feature in doubles. Venus also received the wild card for singles and will be hoping to finally end her losing streak, having lost all the first rounds of the 10 singles matches she has played this season

The 46-year-old never hung up her racket, unlike her sister Serena, who retired for the first time after her third-round defeat at the 2022 US Open. But during the grass swing this year, the 44-year-old sent shockwaves when she confirmed that the return rumors are indeed true.

Gauff, 22, however, can’t foresee herself playing in her 40s like the Williams sisters.

I think it’s really, like, cool and great to watch. I grew up watching the Williams sisters, and the fact that there’s like maybe even two generations after me still being able to have that same experience is really insane. I think it’s really incredible for any athlete in any profession, maybe except golf because it’s a little bit less compact, but just to have, [to] be so great at a sport for so long.

Coco Gauff said at the pre-tournament press conference in Toronto

Serena played her first official match since her retirement at the Queen’s Club Championships, pairing up with Victoria Mboko and winning the first match. Mboko’s injury in her singles match, however, forced her and Serena to withdraw.

Serena later paired up with Karolina Muchova for the Berlin Open, only to lose their first match. Then at Wimbledon, after losing her singles match to Maya Joint, Serena and Venus were forced to withdraw from doubles because the 23-time Major singles champion picked up a knee injury.

I mean, I don’t think I’ll be playing in my 40s, just, yeah, well, they said the same thing when they were my age, so we’ll see, but I hope not (laughing). I think I should have other priorities maybe, but who knows… I think they definitely give inspiration for everybody to chase their dreams and no matter their age or where they are in their career, and what other people, naysayers, may have to say.

Coco Gauff added

Serena last won a Major title at the 2017 Australian Open by beating Venus, who last won a Grand Slam singles title at the 2008 Wimbledon.

Coco Gauff will face Kayla Day in the opening round of the Canadian Open

Coco Gauff has played two finals this year, losing both. Following her defeat to Aryna Sabalenka in Miami, the American ace lost to Elina Svitolina at the Italian Open. She also failed to make a deep run at Roland Garros, where last year she clinched a three-set win over Sabalenka in the final.

Before arriving in Toronto, Gauff reached her career’s first Wimbledon semifinal but lost a thrilling three-set battle to eventual runner-up Karolina Muchova. Gauff last won a title at the 2025 Wuhan Open by beating countrywoman Jessica Pegula.

In Toronto, the two-time Grand Slam singles champion will square off against countrywoman Kayla Day. The qualifier knocked out Diane Parry to schedule the match against Gauff. Day qualified for the main draw in this event for the second time (after the 2023 season).

Gauff has never made it past the quarterfinals of the Canadian Open. She is a three-time quarterfinalist, but suffered a fourth-round exit last year.

Also read: Stefanos Tsitsipas’ New Coach Expects Him to Be ‘Fighter’ and Stop Looking for Excuses