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Coco Gauff has snubbed tennis icons Steffi Graf and Venus Williams in her personal ranking of the sport’s all-time greats. The 20-year-old phenom, currently gearing up for her Indian Wells Open clash against Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima, dropped her GOAT pick amid a challenging 2024 season. With early exits at the Australian Open, Qatar Open, and Dubai Tennis Championship, Gauff is hungry to reignite her momentum.
But as she fine-tunes her game, the young star’s bold declaration about the greatest women’s player ever has stolen headlines—and it’s not who fans might expect.
Coco Gauff’s GOAT Pick: “It’s a Fact, Not an Opinion”
For Gauff, the debate ends with Serena Williams. The US Open champion didn’t mince words when reflecting on Williams’ legacy, calling her “the GOAT of all GOATs” across all sports.
“The legacy she’s left through her tennis career is something no other player can touch,” Gauff stated. “There’s a reason she’s the greatest of all time—and even when I retire, she’ll still hold that title.”
What sets Serena apart, according to Coco Gauff, isn’t just her 23 Grand Slam titles. It’s her impact beyond the baseline.
“If she had 23 majors but was a terrible person, I wouldn’t consider her the GOAT,” Gauff explained. “Her fight for equality, her advocacy for players like me, and how she’s led the way—that’s what makes her the greatest.” The young star doubled down, declaring Williams’ status “undisputed” and a “fact,” not mere opinion.
Why Serena Williams stands alone
Coco Gauff’s admiration stems from witnessing Williams’ resilience against adversity—both as a Black woman in a historically exclusive sport and as a trailblazer redefining athletes’ roles in society. “I don’t think there’ll be another player who faces what she did and still dominates,” Gauff added. While Graf’s Golden Slam and Venus’ seven majors cement their legendary statuses, Gauff argues Serena’s holistic influence—on and off the court—elevates her above peers.
This perspective mirrors Gauff’s own aspirations. Despite her rocky 2024 start, the third-ranked star channels Serena’s blueprint: leveraging her platform for activism while chasing greatness. As she battles at Indian Wells, Coco Gauff’s GOAT nod isn’t just about reverence—it’s a roadmap for her own journey.
