Coco Gauff and Venus Williams share tennis history as well as a kindred for being African American icons. Gauff burst onto the professional tennis circuit when she triumphed over Williams in the 2019 Wimbledon Championships. The teenage sensation hasn’t looked back since that victory and, despite setbacks, has hit a purple patch in her 2023 hard-court season.
She trampled tough opponents in her path to win the Cincinnati Open, before embarking on a quest for a maiden grand slam title in the US Open. After Saturday night’s events, Coco Gauff received accolades and congratulatory messages from several tennis legends, celebrities, and even President Joe Biden. However, Venus Williams displayed her appreciation for the 19-year-old in a unique way.
Venus takes to YouTube comments to share congratulations with Gauff
TODAY posted a video on their YouTube account on Tuesday. In the recording, Coco Gauff was all smiles as she recounted her two-week journey in New York. Venus Williams commented “Congrats Coco <3.” on the video, sending YouTube into a frenzy. Over 800 people liked her comment.
Growing up in a predominantly black neighborhood in Atlanta, Georgia, Coco Gauff viewed Serena Williams and Venus Williams as her inspirations. Their journey with father and coach Richard Williams echoed strongly with Gauff’s own training in the finest academies in America.
“Yes, it’s crazy. I mean, they’re the reason why I have this trophy today, to be honest. They have allowed me to believe in this dream, you know, growing up. You know, there wasn’t too many just Black tennis players dominating the sport.”, Gauff said.
“It was literally, at that time when I was younger, it was just them that I can remember. Obviously, more came because of their legacy. So it made the dream more believable. But all the things that they had to go through, they made it easier for someone like me to do this.”
“I mean, you look back at the history with Indian Wells , with Serena, all she had to go through, Venus fighting for equal pay. Yeah, it’s just, like, it’s crazy and it’s an honour to be in that kind of lineup as them. And I’m looking at it, and she’s won this a lot of times.”, she added.
Coco Gauff wins first Grand Slam title at age 19
Coco Gauff defeated no.2 seed Aryna Sabalenka 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 to lift the US Open trophy for the first time. She is the first American teenager to complete the feat since Serena Williams in 1999.
Her comeback victory over the new world no.1 tennis player shattered numerous records. It was the most-watched women’s singles final ever aired on ESPN. The viewership shot up by a whopping 92 percent from last year’s final. It stands as the second most-viewed final ever, with Serena Williams’ victory over Venus Williams in the 2002 US Open final claiming the first spot. Her pan-American status meant the match trounced the men’s final in terms of viewership – a rare sight in tennis.
“I’m still me. … I don’t think I’ll ever (see) myself as a celebrity. I’m just a person who plays tennis, and millions of people like to watch me play tennis. But I think I’m going to be the same person after this. Yes, my life has changed. But I don’t think it’s going to affect how I approach my day-to-day life,” Gauff said after her victory over Sabalenka.
At 19 years, 5 months 27 days, Coco Gauff stands 10th on the list of youngest-ever US Open winners. Tracy Austin at 16 years, 8 months, 28 days is the youngest on the list when she won the 1979 US Open. 2021 champion Emma Raducanu is fifth on the list.
Coco Gauff is standing at the forefront of American women’s tennis. It is the dawn of a new era after Serena William’s retirement. What do you think about her first US Open title? Will the teenager continue to build on her legacy next season? Let us know in the comments section below.
