Coco Gauff was left star-struck by Serena Williams when they first met.
The 20-year-old has made no secret of the fact she idolised both Serena and her sister Venus growing up, and is now following in their footsteps.
Gauff has revealed her first meeting with Serena Williams left her starstruck
She is ranked number three in the world and already has a Grand Slam title to her name after winning the US Open in 2023.
Gauff still has a fair way to go to catch up to the Williams sisters, who share a ridiculous 30 Grand Slam singles titles between them, but has made a bright start to her career.
There’s no doubt she has come a long way from her first meeting with Serena, too.
During an episode of “Hair Me Out” on the Refinery29 YouTube channel, Gauff recalled being “star-struck” by her idol when they first crossed paths.
“Serena was actually shooting a commercial at the same place I was practising,” Gauff explained.
“I saw somebody walking, and I thought it was a stunt double of her 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 realised it was her and I was so excited.
“She came over to just give me advice and speak to me.”
Gauff went on to explain that she sees Williams as a role model both in terms of her tennis and her on-court style, explaining why she wears her hair in the same way while playing.
“I look up to Serena, to her looks and her hair, and how she was never afraid to show her curls or her braids,” she continued.
Gauff recently won the China Open and will chase more glory in 2025Getty
“For me, I want to be as diverse with my hair as I can be.
“I love to wear my curls… because you look good and you feel good. It almost makes you perform better.”
While Williams left Gauff starstruck when they first met, she has since become a big admirer of the youngster’s tennis.
Speaking after watching Gauff at the US Open this year, the tennis legend shared some big praise.
“Coco has a massive tennis IQ,” Williams said.
“I think she really uses her brain out there. I think she can really rely on her serve. Obviously, her movement is great.
“And I just love her mental toughness and her mental fortitude.”
Williams retired in September 2022 with 23 Grand Slam singles titles to her name, the most in the Open era and one short of Margaret Court’s all-time record.
Gauff is gearing up for the season-ending WTA Finals, a tournament where she reached the semifinals in 2023 and after the draw took place on Tuesday she know who she will face.
World No.1 Iga Swiatek, who she has beaten just once in 12 meetings, fellow American Jessica Pegula and Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova will be her opponents in the round robin stage.
