Serena and Venus Williams have played an important role in the development and popularity of modern-day tennis. Many young girls have taken up the sport because of them. A few are even competing on the professional tour now. One such player is the current world number six, Coco Gauff. The 18-year-old is a big fan of the Williams sisters and has identified them as her role models. However, there’s something more to it. We got to know a few more interesting facts about Gauff and her family when Coco Gauff’s mother appeared for an interview.
Gauff’s father is a fan of Richard Williams.
Junior tennis players are taking inspiration from Serena and Venus, even Richard is inspiring many parents. In an interview in August, Coco Gauff’s mother revealed that her husband is a huge fan of Richard Williams.
What did Gauff's mother say?
Here’s what she said, “If it wasn’t for the Williams sisters, Coco would not be a tennis player. And if it wasn’t for Richard, my husband would not have studied tennis in that format. He’s patented himself off [Richard Williams] and used their roadmap.”
The world number one looks like me: how Serena Williams inspired Coco Gauff.
Growing up watching tennis, Gauff knew it as a predominantly white sport. Then Serena and Venus arrived in the picture. She saw them win and conquer the world. They topped the ranks and proved themselves as players. This gave confidence to a young Coco Gauff.
Gauff had more to add.
She remembers feeling that the world number one is someone who looks like her. This similarity fueled her passion for the sport, and that’s how we have seen the emergence of one of the most promising talents in women’s tennis.