When Coco Gauff talked about Serena Williams' impact as a Black tennis player: “There was not really an icon…”

Coco Gauff, one of the brightest young stars in tennis today, has never shied away from sharing how deeply Serena Williams has influenced her both on and off the court. As a rising Black athlete in a sport historically dominated by white players, Gauff credits Williams with being a powerful trailblazer who made it possible for young girls like her to dream bigger.

A role model who redefined possibility for youngster like Coco Gauff

In 2022, just before the US Open, 18-year-old Gauff was asked about the impact Serena Williams had on her journey. The timing was especially poignant—Williams was preparing for her farewell from professional tennis, marking the end of a legendary career.

Gauff, fresh off a win against France's Leolia Jeanjean, spoke with heartfelt admiration, calling Serena a pivotal figure for young Black athletes in a predominantly white sport.

“Before Serena Williams came along, there was not really an icon of the sport that looked like me... So growing up, I never thought that I was different because the No. 1 player in the world was somebody who looked like me,” Coco Gauff said, emphasizing how Williams’ visibility gave her the confidence to see herself at the top of the sport.

A lesson in self-worth

While Serena’s tennis accolades are numerous—23 Grand Slam titles and multiple Olympic gold medals—Gauff pointed out that her influence went far beyond statistics and trophies.

“It’s just the way that she handles herself — she never puts herself down... I love that she always elevates herself. Sometimes being a woman, a Black woman in the world, you settle for less. I feel like Serena taught me that, from watching her, she never settled for less. I can’t remember a moment in her career or life that she settled for less,” Gauff continued.

This message, Coco Gauff noted, resonated with her deeply, shaping her sense of worth, confidence, and expectations not just in tennis, but in life.

From inspiration to rivalry

Gauff, who picked up a racket at just four years old in Florida, grew up idolizing both Serena and Venus Williams. Her breakout moment came in 2019 when she defeated Venus in the opening round at Wimbledon as a 15-year-old—an emotional full-circle moment that solidified her arrival on the global stage.

Now a Grand Slam champion herself, Coco Gauff continues to carry the torch lit by Serena Williams, inspiring the next generation while honoring the legacy of a woman who transformed the sport forever.