Coco Gauff acknowledges that she aspires to be recognized as one of the greatest players in the history of tennis. However, she admits that she doesn’t believe she can reach the same level of success as Serena Williams. Like her idol, Gauff achieved significant success at a young age. At just 19 years old, she is already a Grand Slam champion and the top-ranked American female tennis player, currently ranked No. 3 in the world. Gauff’s impressive performance at Wimbledon in 2019, where she defeated Venus Williams and reached the round-of-16 as a 15-year-old qualifier, sparked discussions about her potential to become the next Serena Williams.
Gauff has already accumulated seven titles in her career, including the 2023 US Open and her first WTA 1000 title in Cincinnati in the same year. She also reached the final of the French Open in 2022 and has participated in the last two editions of the WTA Finals. With her remarkable achievements, many believe that Gauff is poised for further success and could potentially win several Grand Slam titles. Despite her aspirations, Gauff emphasizes that she doesn’t want to limit herself or set a ceiling on what she can achieve.
In an interview with The National, Gauff shared her perspective on greatness in tennis. She believes that multiple players can be great, but acknowledges that there can only be one greatest of all time. Gauff recognizes that Serena Williams has made an unparalleled impact on the sport and it would be difficult for her or anyone else to surpass her accomplishments. However, Gauff hopes to be remembered as one of the best players when she retires and aims to continually improve and surpass her own expectations.
After winning the 2023 US Open and starting the 2024 season with a title in Auckland, Gauff entered the Australian Open as one of the top contenders for the championship. Although she made a deep run, her journey was halted in the semifinals by Aryna Sabalenka, resulting in a 7-6 (2), 6-4 loss. While Gauff was disappointed by falling short of back-to-back titles, she tried to maintain a positive mindset and celebrate her achievements. Gauff recognized the significance of reaching the semifinals of a Grand Slam and reminded herself to appreciate the smaller victories along the way.
As she prepares for the French Open, Gauff will be making her fifth appearance in the main draw. Despite her young age, Gauff has already experienced success at Roland Garros, reaching the quarterfinals in 2021 and making her first Grand Slam final in 2022. However, she was defeated by Iga Swiatek in straight sets. Gauff’s performance at the French Open last year also ended in the quarterfinals, with Swiatek emerging as the victor. If Gauff maintains her health and consistency, there is no doubt that she will be considered one of the top contenders for the French Open title this year.
According to the Source tennisworldusa.org