Rising tennis sensation Coco Gauff has been an inspirational force for the budding tennis players all around the world. Her swift rise in the WTA circuit has also motivated a lot of girls to pick up the tennis racquet and start playing the sport.
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The American sensation firmly put herself at the top of the game after reaching the fourth round of the Wimbledon Championships on her Grand Slam main draw debut last year.
She defeated her idol, Venus Williams, in the first of the championships. She also defeated the defending champion Naomi Osaka on her Australian Open debut, indicating a change of guard.
“It amazes me since that is how I got into the sport” – Coco Gauff
Gauff started to play tennis after watching the Williams sisters. Gauff also feels privileged to inspire many around the world to play tennis.
She would have never thought about taking tennis as a career if the Williams sisters weren’t a part of the sport. Now, she is touted as the successor of Serena Williams and Venus Williams. Moreover, she has now taken the lead to inspire youngsters to get into tennis.
“Personally, for me, I like playing for more than myself. I have girls now coming up to me, of all races but mostly African Americans, saying they are picking up a racquet for the first time because of me. It amazes me since that is how I got into the sport,” she said on Behind The Racquet podcast.
Gauff recalled that about a month before Wimbledon, she went to the club she trained at and saw mostly boys playing. A month after she went back and the majority were girls. The trainer told her that the change was because of her.
“I could never imagine that one tournament could have that kind of effect. For me, one of the biggest things is to continue breaking barriers. I am getting used to the idea that people view me as a role model,” she added.
Also Read: “I Don’t Like Being Compared to Serena or Venus” – Coco Gauff
Gauff will be eagerly waiting for the season to resume soon and challenge the mainstays of the tour and proving that she can be the successor of Serena Williams.
