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Coco Gauff Achieves What Serena Williams and Venus Williams Failed to Do in Astounding French Open Feat

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serena williams and coco gauff

Coco Gauff has been writing history from the moment she began her professional journey. Gauff was just 14 years old when she won her first pro match and has been unstoppable on the tennis court since then. However, the question arises, has the young American ever surpassed her predecessors’ success?

It’s a heartfelt moment to break a record or match it with your idol. However, to claim a record that has been elusive from their books, would undoubtedly call for celebration. And Coco Gauff has outdone not only Serena Williams but also Venus Williams for this record! Gauff has sailed smoothly throughout her French Open campaign until now. Things are going to pick up pace, both in intensity and strength.  However, before she plays her quarterfinal match, she’s pausing to celebrate a special moment at the Roland Garros.

Recently on their official Instagram account, the US Open, has shared the landmark achieved by Gauff at the mere age of 20. The world no. 3 would not be playing her 1st French Open quarter-final but her fourth!  The US Open captioned the post, ” Tradition at this point.” With over 6 years of professional experience under her belt, this would be Gauff’s fourth straight appearance at the Roland Garros. And the fact that she is the only American women tennis star to do so, is certainly a cherry on the top!

The Williams sisters, Serena and Venus shattered numerous glass ceilings in the women’s tennis. Specifically for the French Open, Serena won five titles – three singles and two doubles. While Venus has a record of one title won in Paris. The sisters opened doors for girls and women which were closed until then. Hence it’s a delight that youngsters are building upon the strong foundation laid with decades of work!

And Gauff couldn’t be more happy about her progress at the French Open, as she quoted in the recent post-match interview, “I am really happy with how everything has been going.” What is the young American tennis star so giddy about?

Coco Gauff is all hearts after re-union with an old-team member

The world no.3 has dominated her initial rounds at the Roland Garros. Despite the successful start, it could get unnerving for both the athlete and their team. And hence, any extra help is not only appreciated but also welcomed. When that help culminates into a reunion, it’s certainly a delight! Sometime back, Jean-Christophe Faurel returned to Coco’s camp, his second stint after collaborating in 2019 and the 20-year-old has been excited about it.

As she detailed her practice sessions under her coaches, she said ” They collaborate on, you know, the things that I need to work on. JC does a lot of day-to-day, you know, things, because, you know, Brad isn’t at every single tournament, and so he(Jean) does a lot of day-to-day drills, like, you know, being there day-to-day.”

Coco Gauff is all geared up from all sides to add another Grand Slam to her list. She has an uphill battle to get to the top, as Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka, and Elena Rybakina, the Big 3 of this calendar year, have sailed through their initial rounds.

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TENNIS

‘I Want to Be a GOAT’ – Coco Gauff Divulges How Venus and Serena Williams Empowered Her to Dream Big at Just Six

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American tennis legends, Serena and Venus Williams changed the perspective of how people looked at women’s tennis. They inspired young players, especially girls of color, to pick up the racket and smash some balls. Among them was Coco Gauff, who was massively inspired by the Williams sisters’ achievements when she was still a kid. The Williams sisters were one of the reasons that empowered Gauff to excel in the sport.

With her unique style of play and laudable achievements in the early days of her career, Gauff has often been compared to Serena and Venus Williams. While the resemblance of play is rooted in facts, it also comes from watching the sisters play on the television screen right from a young age. Recently, Gauff revealed how the duo enabled her to realize her dream.

Coming from a family of athletes where her mother was a track and field star and her father was a basketball player, Coco Gauff was exposed to the sporting world at a very young age. When she was about to turn six years old, sitting with her father Corey, Coco witnessed Serena Williams lifting the Australian Open trophy in triumph.

Little Coco was in awe and even her father, Corey felt the emotions and called the American legend ‘the GOAT.’ However, a young Gauff, who didn’t know what that term meant, asked her father to explain. “The Greatest of All Time”, it meant. And so young Coco’s mind was made. “I want to be a GOAT,” she told her father, not knowing how close she would come to that title some 16 years later.

Further, Gauff reflected on this incident and said, “As a little girl, it was very important to see representation and see myself in players, especially in the field where it is predominantly white. I don’t think I would have had the belief I could do it if it wasn’t for them.”

Interestingly, while Gauff has played against Venus Williams, she hasn’t faced Serena Williams yet. In an interview, she opened up about the prospects of facing her idol.

Gauff wasn’t ready for Serena Williams

Earlier this year, Coco Gauff reflected on her time with the Williams sisters. She has faced Venus Williams on a couple of occasions and even defeated her, causing massive upsets. But her dream of facing Serena Williams didn’t bear fruit because the WTA legend retired before the two could face each other across the net. Probably a good thing, because Gauff also expressed nervousness at the mere thought of their matchup.

She revealed, “Playing Serena at Wimbledon, I don’t know, I feel like it would have messed up my story. I wasn’t ready for Serena at that time. If I had the perfect world I would have gotten to play both. But Serena retired and I played Venus twice. In my perfect world I would have played Venus once and Serena once.”

While Serena Williams retired in 2022, Gauff has taken over the baton from her and is flying her country’s flag high. It’ll be interesting to see how many Grand Slam titles she can add to her tally this year.

 

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TENNIS

A dominant start to the Australian Open has earned Coco Gauff the title of matching Serena Williams in her strongest suit.

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The focus has been on Coco Gauff’s serve for a while now. Her coach Brad Gilbert was recently spotted teaching her how to rope in order to help her get better at serving. The legendary American tennis player Pam Shriver has now intervened, stating that Coco Guff’s serve is just as strong as Serena Williams’.

The serve of Serena Williams was once renowned. Her serve was considered to be among the greatest in women’s tennis at its height. Returning to the current American prodigy, Shriver finds it inspiring to see Coco Gauff’s squad work hard to hone her “big weapon.”

Coco Guff’s strength has always been her excellent court coverage and strong serve. Experts believe that with a little accuracy, she may make a big impact in the tennis world. Recently, Gilbert called in Andy Roddick to help Gauff sharpen her serve ahead of the Australian Open. Many people consider Roddick’s serves to be among the greatest in the history of the men’s game.

In a recent ESPN interview, Pam Shriver discussed how deadly Coco Gauff’s serve could be with a few minor adjustments. “I adore that they are continuously experimenting with the serve, which is such a powerful weapon. I think Coco Gauff can serve just as well as Serena Williams did.She can serve that well, in my opinion,” remarked Shriver.

The 61-year-old tennis legend from America is really upbeat about Gauff’s development. Coco Gauff recently began her Australian Open season. Can she win this tournament and secure her second major title?

Anna Karolina Schmiedlova of Slovakia lost to Coco Gauff 6-3,6-0. The 19-year-old completed the agreement at the Rod Laver Arena in less than an hour. She has advanced to the next round and will play her countrywoman Caroline Dolehide on Wednesday after this victory. In the match against the Slovak, Gauff was only able to strike three aces. However, her dominance in the second set demonstrates why many consider her to be among the favorites for the season’s first Grand Slam.

When it comes to serves, nobody can match Serena Williams’ flawless records using her deadly weapon. She was one of the greatest servers of all time because of her power, rhythm, concealment, and impeccable timing. She has the ability to consistently reach 125 mph. Over 4000 aces have been struck by Williams throughout her career. She had struck an incredible 13 aces in her US Open qualifying match in 2018.

 

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GYMNASTICS

Simone Biles is up against LeBron James, Coco Gauff, Lionel Messi, and other competitors.

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2024 has already commenced. However, the unwavering performances of the world’s best athletes in 2023 are clearly remembered by all. Accolades, honors, and recognition are rolling in before the Olympic year’s next season of accomplishments begins. When it comes to gymnastics, nobody shines more brightly than the greatest of all time, Simone Biles.

The six-time world all-around champion stunned everyone by making her much-awaited return in 2023. Simone Biles didn’t have much time left in the year, though, as she only started competing again in August. She is currently vying for a significant honor against the titans of other sports.

Simone Biles’ name was listed among the top athletes who not only dominated 2023 but also continue to be global superstars. Despite being the best gymnast in the world at the moment, Simone Biles made her comeback very late in the year.

In addition, the gymnastics off-season started not long after she was crowned world champion in Antwerp. She was unable to enter many competitions, but she excelled in each one that she did enter. Simone Biles never gave the impression that she was going to make a return, even after winning the US Classic. Anyone who observed her routines, in fact, found it hard to believe she had ever left. The remaining athletes on the list, though, are not far behind.

At the 2023 Artistic Gymnastics Championship, Simone Biles added four gold medals to her already impressive total of 30 world championships. She also broke her own gold medal records in floor exercises and beam balancing. It’s interesting to note that she has almost twice as many global titles as the other gymnasts combined. The pinnacle of her return was when she had a Belgian move named for her.

Even though her accomplishments are indeed remarkable, other sportsmen deserve a spot on the list as well. Alongside his native Argentina, Lionel Messi defeated the reigning champions, France, to win the FIFA World Cup. This year, American tennis player Coco Gauff achieved her maiden Grand Slam victory after steadily rising through the WTA rankings.

Several NBA players were included on the list as well. The top players on this list were Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks, LeBron “King” James of the Los Angeles Lakers, and Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors. With the exception of 2023 and 2019, all three of these players and their teams have won the NBA championship since 2015; Curry leads the group with four victories. Given the fierce competition, do you think Simone Biles can emerge victorious in the People’s Choice award in 2023?

 

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TENNIS

Despite Hard-Hitting Serena Williams Admission, Jessica Pegula Takes Heart From Her and Coco Gauff’s Efforts to Follow in the Legend’s Footsteps

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Serena Williams has changed the algorithm of the way Americans view women’s rise in the tennis arena. However, since her retirement in 2022, a lot of other tennis players including Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula have been trying to follow in her footsteps to keep her legacy alive.

Recently, the 29-year-old American tennis star astonished everyone as she made a blunt Serena Williams admission. Not only that, she also opened up about her thoughts on the privilege of following the 42-year-old American tennis Legend’s athletic path.

Following the former world number one’s footsteps in the tennis world is not easy, but at the same time, Pegula and Gauff are trying to keep her legacy alive in the best way possible. Recently, in an interview with Forbes the fifth-ranked tennis player opened up her heart regarding how she and her doubles partner are putting effort into following the legendary Serena Williams legacy.

But before that in the same conversation, Jessica Pegula also made a strong statement regarding how it’s not easy to keep up with the 42-year-old American tennis legend’s legacy. She stated, “I don’t think anyone can fill Serena’s shoes.” 

Along with that, talking about Gauff, she detailed how it’s not easy to be the only American, to carry the pressure of being called the next Venus or Serena Williams. Pegula mentioned, “Someone like Coco has a lot of pressure on her as far as being regarded as the next Serena or Venus. I don’t really see that as a role I have to fill. But it’s pretty cool when I can say ‘I’ve won this many hardcourt matches, it hasn’t been done since Serena.’ Having little stats like that is really cool.” 

Nevertheless, she is not the only one who talked about how it’s not easy to live up to the pressure of being the Americans who lead their country in the world of tennis. A few months back, even the 19-year-old American tennis star brought out a totally different perspective amid witnessing noisy Serena Williams’ expectations rising around her.

During the US Open in a post-match press conference, the Grand Slam champion opened up about how she is a privileged tennis player while addressing the real hardships of the world. She said, “At first I used to think negative things, like, why is there so much pressure, why is this so hard, blah, blah, blah. I realize in a way it’s pressure, but it’s not.” 

Along with that, Gauff also highlighted how there are people who are struggling to feed their family not knowing when they might get their next meal, so her problem is quite small. That’s why rather than being under pressure to follow Williams’ footsteps, she is just enjoying her ride in the tennis world.

 

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TENNIS

Revisiting One of Coco Gauff’s Toughest Phases, Lindsay Davenport Voices the Negative Thoughts That Clouded Her Mind – ’Hope This Doesn’t Happen’

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Year-end exhaustion is an issue all players have to face, irrespective of the sport. Constantly traveling for tournaments and playing every week with training on top is bound to empty the tanks of players. With many tournaments throughout the year, players learn to manage their schedules. Coco Gauff is one of them, and she changed her schedule to keep her energy up till the WTA Finals. Before, though, Gauff looked exhausted often. Lindsay Davenport, one of her biggest supporters, revisited that time.

Despite making sure she was fit for the Finals in Cancun, Gauff will still be missing out on another iconic tournament. The Billie Jean King Cup, this year, will not feature the US Open champion. But she is continuing her run in the Finals to soften the blow.

Lindsay Davenport, a three-time Grand Slam champion, recently appeared on the Tennis Channel Inside-in podcast. She talked about Coco Gauff and praised her for her efforts since she won the US Open. She gave the example of her 2022 season, where she played every tournament leading up to the Finals and ended up exhausting herself. Davenport further said that the 19-year-old did not look happy back then.

“And I remember watching her in Fort Worth. And I remember thinking, “Oh my gosh, I hope we don’t lose her.” You know, I hope like overplaying and all the expectations and all these things on such an amazing talent. Listen, we’ve seen it a lot in women’s tennis. And I remember thinking, “Gosh, I hope this doesn’t happen.” And an amazing job by her team, her family this year in kind of getting rid of that you’re exhausted at the end of the year.”

The way Gauff managed to recover has made Davenport happy, and the former player is glad to see her still competing. But despite Gauff being fit for the Finals, she is bound to miss out on the Billie Jean King Cup.

Gauff’s withdrawal from the BJK Cup

The BJK Cup is akin to the Davis Cup in women’s tennis. Players make teams according to their nationalities who then play against each other to make sure they lift the big prize. The tournament often features some of the biggest players in their country. However, Gauff, the current American number 1, will be missing out on the final rounds of the cup.

She played in the earlier matches of the BJK Cup. But after an injury in the China Open, Gauff will conclude her 2023 season in the WTA Finals. After the tournament ends on 5th November, we will see the American sensation take a well-deserved break from the hectic schedule.

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Coco Gauff’s breakthrough at US Open could not have been scripted better

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Coco Gauff became the first American teenager since Serena Williams to reach a US Open final and the timing of her home breakthrough could not have been scripted better.

Williams’ diamond-encrusted and star-studded departure from tennis at Flushing Meadows last year showcased the impact she has had on the sport over 25 years.

But it also left a big hole, particular for tennis in the US, where a dearth of male success over the same period has seen its profile wane.

Now 12 months later, here is Gauff, taking over the baton in seamless fashion and poised to become one of the world’s biggest sporting stars.

The Williams family has played a huge role in the story of Gauff’s first 19 years. She grew up idolising the sisters, while her first pay check came from playing a young Serena in an advert.

Speaking about Serena’s influence on her in New York last year, Gauff said: “Growing up, I never thought that I was different because the number one player in the world was somebody who looked like me.

“I love that she always elevates herself. Sometimes being a woman, a black woman in the world, you kind of settle for less. I can’t remember a moment in her career or life that she settled for less.”

It was Venus rather than Serena, though, who was central to Gauff bursting through on the global stage, aged only 15.

A childhood prodigy who won the US national under-12 title aged 10 and a grand slam junior crown at only 14, she qualified for the women’s singles at Wimbledon in 2019 and defeated Venus in the first round.

Wowing with her serve, backhand, athleticism and a maturity way beyond her years, Gauff rode a wave of support through to the fourth round.

The talk was already of when the teenager would win a grand slam and she has had to handle huge expectations from that moment on, but – while she will not turn 20 until next March – the last four years have seen her gain an excellent grounding in the game.

Gauff has overcome moments of doubt, including a first-round loss at Wimbledon this summer, to maintain a steadily-upward trajectory, reaching her first senior grand slam final at the French Open last summer.

What makes Gauff, who has already been ranked world number one in doubles, such a huge asset for tennis is not just her performances and potential on court but the person she is away from it.

A big fan of TikTok and superheroes, Gauff is very much a 21st century American teenager, yet she also uses her platform to advocate for causes she believes in, speaking at a Black Lives Matter rally in her home town of Delray Beach when she was only 16.

She is a superb talker on a range of subjects, saying earlier this week about handling the spotlight: “At first I used to think negative things, like, ‘Why is there so much pressure, why is this so hard’?

“I realise in a way it’s pressure but it’s not. There are people struggling to feed their families, people who don’t know where their next meal is going to come from, people who have to pay their bills.

“That’s real pressure, that’s real hardship, that’s real life. I’m getting paid to do what I love and getting support to do what I love. That’s something that I don’t take for granted.”

Born in Atlanta to parents Candi and Corey – Gauff’s given name is Cori but she is universally known as Coco – who were talented in athletics and basketball, respectively, the family moved to back to Candi and Corey’s home town of Delray Beach in Florida when their daughter was seven to enhance her training opportunities.

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