Tennis legend Venus Williams has shown unwavering support for rising star Coco Gauff, even as the 20-year-old phenom gets closer to surpassing a historic record held by Serena Williams.
Despite Gauff potentially breaking her sister’s milestone, Venus is rooting for Gauff to win “every match,” embodying her enduring love for the sport and its future.
Gauff, who stunned the tennis world by defeating Venus herself at Wimbledon in 2019 when she was just 15, continues to shine. The pair later teamed up in 2021 for doubles at the French Open, a moment Venus still reflects on fondly.
During a recent book launch event, Venus spoke about her admiration for Gauff’s incredible rise.
“It’s so exciting to see her just like… explode,” she said with enthusiasm, according to Daily Express. “She is fantastic, and of course, I hope she wins every match.”
While Venus supports Gauff, she is also aware that the young star is inching closer to Serena’s record for the most wins against former Grand Slam champions before turning 21.
Serena achieved 22 such victories, and Gauff is on the verge of tying that mark, having recently secured her 20th win against former champion Naomi Osaka at the China Open.
With five months left until her 21st birthday, Gauff has a solid chance of surpassing Serena’s record, adding yet another chapter to her already impressive career.
Ranked world No. 3, Gauff has been on an extraordinary run lately, winning the China Open and reaching the semi-finals of the Wuhan Open. Though she lost a hard-fought three-set match to Aryna Sabalenka, her progress continues to capture attention.
In a lighter moment, Gauff made headlines during a press conference at the Wuhan Open when she accidentally revealed that she had qualified for the WTA Tour Finals before the official announcement.
“Oops, they said they didn’t announce it yet,” Gauff laughed, adding, “But if you look it up online, there’s a checkmark by my name.”
As Gauff edges closer to breaking one of Serena’s records, Venus remains her biggest cheerleader, symbolizing a passing of the torch from one generation of tennis greatness to another.
Gauff’s journey is just beginning, and with Venus in her corner, she’s poised for even more success.
