Coco Gauff is opening up about the influence tennis great Serena Williams has had on her career.
Following her semifinal win at the US Open on September 7, Gauff was asked about Williams’ historic career and how it has inspired her own.
“Serena is Serena,” Gauff said in her post-match interview, reports Today. “She’s the GOAT. I’d hope to do half of what she did. But I’m not gonna compare myself to her.”
Gauff said that she looks up to Williams and that “being in the same stat line as her means a lot to me.”
She went on to add that she wishes that she had been able to play Williams before her retirement in 2022.
“She’s my idol,” Gauff said. “The only regret I’ll have for the rest of my life is not being able to play her. There were so many tournaments where if we won an extra round and didn’t lose, I would’ve played her. But I’m still happy to just be a product of her legacy and be out here for American tennis.
Gauff will compete in her first-ever US Open final on September 9 against second-seeded Aryna Sabalenka.
With her seminal win, Gauff became the first American teen — male of female — to reach a US Open final since Serena Williams in 2001
Heading into her semifinal match, Gauff had already become the first American teen — male or female — since Serena Williams in 2001 to reach the US Open quarterfinal and semifinal.
She defeated Jelena Ostapenko 6-0, 6-2 on September 5 to reach her semifinal match against Muchova. And she defeated Karolina Muchova 6-4, 7-5 to reach the US Open final.
Photo by Victor Velter / Shutterstock
So proud of you Coco!!!!