‘Not an Overnight Success’- American Youngster Coco Gauff’s Parents’ Harsh Revelation Once About How Much They Loathe the Word ‘Prodigy’

The American tennis ace Coco Gauff has achieved a lot at a very young age. She is still a teenager but is at the top of the list of potential future legends of WTA. In fact, people are hoping to see her become the next Serena Williams. Though sharing a slot with the 23 times Grand Slam champion, other than bringing confidence and fame, bring the tag of being gifted.

The value of one’s hard work gets washed off. Fans label such players as someone born with talent by calling them a prodigy. And that is something that Gauff’s parents always found unsettling and misleading. Here’s what they had to say about the same.

As per Gauff’s father

Earlier in the year 2019, Gauff’s father sat down for an interview and revealed his take on terms such as prodigy being used for his daughter. “I understand the Webster’s dictionary [definition] of it, and maybe it’s applicable, but to me, it’s like [Bobby] Fischer in chess.” Corey Gauff said.

Thereafter, he explained, “Somebody [who] can see the chessboard. That’s a prodigy to me. They just have a mental capability that’s so unique and so off the charts. When it comes to something like tennis, [Coco] works hard. This is not an accident.”

“She might be overnight popular, but she’s not an overnight success.”

Gauff turned pro in 2018 and in a year established herself enough to take down the seven-time Grand Slam champion and former World no.1 Venus Williams.

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She took down Williams in the opening round of the 2019 Wimbledon. Further, in the same season, by claiming the Linz Open, she became the youngest professional to win a WTA title.

Therefore, the hype around her name was unimaginable.

The ‘youngest’ titles Coco Gauff garnered this season

The American advanced her records this year. She, at first, without dropping any set made it to the finals of the French Open, the tournament which uprooted high-caliber aces such as Naomi Osaka and Simona Halep in the initial rounds. By doing so, she became the youngest since the five-times Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova in 2004 to compete for a majors title.

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Following that, by securing multiple last-eight runs in the American swing, she qualified for the Texas-based WTA Finals. Gauff received a green chit for both singles and doubles categories of the tournament. With these achievements, she marked her name on another youngest record of the Russian. She now holds the title of the youngest player since Sharapova to qualify for the event.