Coco Gauff considers Serena Williams the 'true and only GOAT' (greatest of all time) and looks to her for inspiration in achieving more success.
The 20-year-old won her maiden Grand Slam trophy last year, which was a significant moment for her. It was her first major trophy, but certainly not the last, and when looking for inspiration, the American looks to compatriot Serena Williams.
Williams inspired many tennis players, especially those of similar age as Gauff, who grew up watching the Williams sisters dominate, like many American kids, who dreamed of becoming tennis players.
Gauff admitted earlier that she doesn't like to be compared to Serena Williams, but she would certainly like to have a great career like hers, as she admitted after her opening-round win at the 2024 Roland Garros.
"I think its something I definitely want to trend to. I think for me, I just want to win as many slams as possible and being inspired by Serena Williams. I think she is the one and true and only goat. But I think just being inspired by her, it just allowed me to make my dreams as limitless as possible."
While Gauff's success is not on the same scale yet, she was always taught to dream big, and that's exactly what she's trying to do. Then, she can inspire even more kids to pick up the racket, the same way Serena inspired her.
"And I was taught from a young age to make your dreams as big as possible. Even if they don't feel realistic just because I don't know, I feel like you can box yourself in if you say, I just want to get this, and I just want to get that."
For now, the 2023 US Open champion will want to take it one step at a time and focus on her second-round match at the 2024 Roland Garros, which will be against Tamara Zidansek from Slovenia.
0 Comments