What Serena Williams once said about a teenaged Coco Gauff after she beat Venus Williams

Coco Gauff has expertly taken over the mantle from the Williams sisters, with the former enjoying fantastic success in her brief career so far.

Gauff is already training for the 2025 season, having only just beaten Qinwen Zheng to win the ATP Finals.

She ended the season with a superb three titles won, with Gauff boasting a fantastic win-loss record of 54-17.

But it was all the way back in 2019 when she first burst onto the scene, when a 15-year-old Gauff beat Venus Williams at Wimbledon.

The latter was entering the main draw in London for the 22nd time, with Venus Williams a five-time Wimbledon champion.

What Serena Williams once said about a teenaged Coco Gauff

Gauff meanwhile was taking part in her very first Grand Slam, with the teenager having progressed through the qualifiers to reach round one.

And it was the youngster who emerged victorious, clinching a shock straight sets win at the All England Club.

READ MORE: Coco Gauff equals nine-year Serena Williams record after winning the WTA Finals

The success drew praise from Venus’s sister Serena Williams, who as quoted by Eurosport said of Gauff: “She’s just impressive all around, from her personality to the way she plays. I think it’s just all super impressive.

“I was nowhere near her level at 15 either on the court or off the court, not even close. I know kids are growing up different nowadays, so I’m not sure. But I was nowhere near as smart and eloquent as she is. It’s nice to see.”

What is Coco Gauff’s Grand Slam record?

At 15, Gauff was the youngest player to qualify for Wimbledon, with the teenager enjoying a stunning run to the fourth round after beating Venus.

Her dream journey was finally brought to an end by Simona Halep, who went on to lift the trophy with a final win over Serena.

READ MORE: Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek react after watching Rafael Nadal get emotional during Spain’s national anthem at the Davis Cup

But Gauff didn’t lose her momentum, with the American going on to beat Venus for a second time in the first round of the 2020 Australian Open.

Year
Australian Open
French Open
Wimbledon
US Open

2019
N/A
N/A
4th
3rd

2020
4th
2nd
N/A
1st

2021
2nd
QF
4th
2nd

2022
1st
RUP
3rd
QF

2023
4th
QF
1st
WON

2024
SF
SF
4th
4th

Coco Gauff’s Grand Slam record
Since then, she has, of course, secured Grand Slam success, with the 20-year-old having won the 2023 US Open.

Semi-final finishes at the Australian Open and French Open were the best she could manage in 2024, with a return to Grand Slam silverware now undoubtedly the goal for 2025.