Coco Gauff recently shared a delightful story about her first encounter with the legendary Serena Williams, revealing that she initially mistook the tennis icon for a stunt double. As the world No. 3, Gauff has often expressed how much both Serena and her sister Venus have influenced her career.
In a candid video with Refinery29, the 20-year-old recounted the amusing moment when she first spotted Serena. “Serena was actually shooting a commercial at the same place I was practicing,” Gauff explained. “I saw somebody walking, and I thought it was a stunt double of her or something. So I’m like: ‘That looks like Serena and she’s walking over here.’ I kind of didn’t pay any attention to it, and then I realized it was her and I was so excited.” When Serena approached her, it was to offer advice and encouragement, which left Gauff thrilled.
In the same video, Gauff highlighted how Serena’s bold style has inspired her own self-expression, particularly in terms of hair. “I look up to Serena, to her looks and her hair, and how she was never afraid to show her curls or her braids,” she noted. Gauff emphasized her desire to embrace a diverse range of hairstyles, stating, “For me, I want to be as diverse with my hair as I can be. I love to wear my curls… because you look good and you feel good. It almost makes you perform better.”
This week, Gauff will be competing at the WTA Finals, an event that Serena won five times during her illustrious career. This marks Gauff’s third consecutive appearance at the year-end championships, and she aims to improve on last year’s semi-final run. However, the American faces a challenging group in Riyadh.
In her group, Gauff will take on world No. 2 and defending champion Iga Swiatek, her doubles partner Jessica Pegula, who is seeded sixth, and Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova. To advance past the group stage, Gauff will likely need to secure at least two victories, which could be a tough feat given her current 2-16 record against these formidable opponents.
Gauff earned her place in the Finals by clinching titles in Auckland and Beijing and reaching the semi-finals of both the Australian and French Opens. As she steps onto the court, all eyes will be on this rising star as she takes on some of the best in the game.