It’s not every day that you get to meet your idol, let alone play against her. But 15-year-old Cori Gauff has done this and more. She has surpassed her role model Venus Williams, beating her in her debut on Monday. Nicknamed ‘Coco,’ Gauff is the youngest player to qualify for the main draw at Wimbledon. She won the match against Williams 6-4 6-4. Talking about her victory, the emotional youngster said: “I don't really know how to feel, this is the first time I've cried after a match, after winning. I never thought this would happen. I'm living my dream right now, not many people get to say that.”
Gauff revealed that Williams spoke to her after the match. She told her: “Congratulations, keep going and good luck.” She also expressed her admiration for her favourite player saying: “I just told her I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for her, she's so inspiring. I've always wanted to tell her that but I've never had the guts to before.” She spoke of the role her parents played saying: “My parents will be super happy, my dad was jumping up every time I won a point. I'm so happy they spent all their time on me and my brothers and making sure we're successful.”
The youngest player to win a Wimbledon single after Jennifer Capriati in 1991, Gauff was trained by her father, a college basketball star, and Serena Williams' coach Patrick Mouratoglou. John McEnroe, a three-time champion said: “Venus Williams, when the draw was coming out, would have been saying, 'please don't put me against Coco Gauff' because it's like looking in the mirror.”
We've witnessed something special.#Wimbledon #JoinTheStory @CocoGauff pic.twitter.com/TOj7vuzAEC
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 1, 2019
Made for the big stage ✨@CocoGauff becomes the youngest player since 1991 to win in the first round of the ladies' singles, beating Venus Williams 6-4, 6-4#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/hfgcQGdZtq
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 1, 2019
A sight we could be seeing a lot more of down the years...#Wimbledon | @CocoGauff pic.twitter.com/ogJGDenKKB
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 2, 2019