Women’s tennis isn’t just a sport; it’s a stage where dreams rise to chase the footsteps of legends. Just look at Coco Gauff. She’s carved her own name in stone, all while walking the trail lit by her idol, Serena Williams. “I don’t think anybody will [take Serena’s mantle] because she’s just one of a kind,” Coco once said, honoring the queen who came before her. Now at 21, Coco isn’t just following greatness, she’s becoming it. From the spark of Serena’s fire, Coco now burns her own path into history. And who can say it better than Taylor Fritz!

On the glittering ESPY Awards red carpet, the Instagram page “Sportsish” lit up timelines with a firecracker post that read, “To all these we say, PERIOD. We caught up with athletes and celebs at the #espyawards red carpet to see which woman in sport had them feeling inspired. Who has you most inspired today? Let us know here 👇”

With the energy buzzing and cameras flashing, the host posed a powerful question to athletes and celebrities alike: “One woman in sports that inspires you right now?” Among the chorus of answers, one name stood different, Taylor Fritz stepped up and named Coco Gauff. The next-gen saluted the present queen.

To be honest, Taylor Fritz isn’t wrong; Coco Gauff may just be the most inspiring tennis player of her generation. At only 21, she’s already earned the respect of legends and carved a space among the game’s elite. Ranked second in the world, Gauff has toppled giants on the grandest stages and lifted her first Roland Garros title. 

While Wimbledon remains a puzzle unsolved, her brilliance across the board speaks volumes. The journey began early in 2017, she was just 13 she reached the US Open junior final. A year later, she conquered Roland Garros juniors and rose to world junior No. 1, becoming the youngest champion since 1994.

By 15, Coco had exploded onto the global scene, defeating her idol Venus Williams at Wimbledon. “Venus is one of my idols. It’s incredible to beat her here, at Wimbledon,” she said, a line etched in tennis folklore. In 2020, she stunned Naomi Osaka at the Australian Open and stormed into Lexington’s quarterfinals. At just 16, she cracked the WTA’s top 50. A year later, she was a finalist at Rome’s WTA 1000, reached the last eight in Paris, and claimed the doubles title in Parma with Caty McNally.

The momentum never stopped. In 2022, she reached her first Grand Slam final at Roland Garros, only falling to Iga Świątek. She also made the doubles semifinals in Paris and New York, and by 18, she soared into the top 10 in both singles and doubles. Her ambition? “To inspire young girls.” And she meant every word.

In 2023, Coco Gauff made history. She captured her first Grand Slam title at the US Open, becoming the youngest American champion since Serena Williams in 1999.

“People doubted me, but I proved that I was capable. This title, I dedicate it to all those who supported me.” She added trophies in Washington and Cincinnati, bringing her haul to 7 WTA singles titles and 8 in doubles. Then on June 7, she lifted her first Roland Garros crown in a gritty, unforgettable battle against world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, a two-hour-and-38-minute thriller.

More than a tennis powerhouse, Coco Gauff symbolizes strength, conviction, and a fearless voice. Her activism in the Black Lives Matter movement, paired with her magnetic charm, has made her the face of brands like Ray-Ban, Bose, Rolex, Head, Marriott Bonvoy, and New Balance, collaborating with Miu Miu. “My dream is not just to win, it’s to leave a mark,” she declares. 

And though she now faces the tough challenge of catching Sabalenka in the rankings, there’s no doubt, Coco’s story has only just begun.

Coco Gauff gains advantage after Sabalenka withdraws from Canada

Aryna Sabalenka has officially crossed the 12,000-point threshold in the WTA rankings, now sitting at a commanding 12,420, up from 11,640 before Wimbledon. With her semifinal run at Wimbledon adding 780 crucial points after missing last year’s event due to a shoulder injury, the World No. 1 is in control. But the pressure is mounting at the top. 

Iga Swiatek is charging fast after her ruthless 6-0, 6-0 Wimbledon demolition of Amanda Anisimova. The Pole has leaped from No. 8 to No. 3 with 6,813 points and only 830 to defend the rest of the season. For Coco Gauff, any stumble now could cost her that precious No. 2 spot.

But fate has offered the American a much-needed breather. Sabalenka has withdrawn from the WTA 1000 Canadian Open, citing fatigue. “I’m looking forward to kicking off the North American hard-court swing, but to give myself the best chance for success this season, I’ve decided it’s in my best interest to skip Montreal,” she stated. With the queen of the rankings out, the draw now leans heavily in Gauff’s favor. She’ll headline Montreal with a golden opportunity to reset and rise.

Last year, Canada was a rough ride. Gauff crashed out 4-6, 1-6 to Diana Shnaider and later admitted she wasn’t even sure she should’ve played, still emotionally drained from her Olympic loss. But history hasn’t been all harsh; she reached the quarterfinals here in both 2022 and 2023. With more time to recharge after her early Wimbledon exit, this could be the perfect storm.

Mentally, Gauff has already turned the page. “I’m not going to dwell on this too long because I want to do well at the US Open,” she declared. “Maybe losing here first round isn’t the worst thing in the world because I have time to reset.”

Now, with the grass behind her and hard courts ahead, the question remains: can Coco Gauff summon her spark once more and chase down that last Grand Slam of the year at Flushing Meadows?