Coco Gauff recalls peculiar circumstances when she first met Serena Williams - "That looks like Serena"

American tennis prodigy Coco Gauff was left speechless when she first met compatriot and idol Serena Williams, an encounter that has been ingrained in the 2023 US Open champion's memory.

Gauff has been touted as the next representative of American tennis likely to succeed Serena and sister Venus Williams. The 20-year old lifted her maiden Grand Slam title at the US Open in 2023, a few weeks after winning her first WTA 500 and WTA 1000 titles. Furthermore, Gauff has skyrocketed to the top of the WTA Rankings in a short period of time, reaching a career-high ranking of World No.2 in June 2024.

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First meeting with Serena was purely coincidental

Having already revealed Serena Williams as her idol and greatest inspiration, Gauff finally got a chance to meet the WTA legend. In an episode of 'Hair Me Out' on Refinery29's Youtube Channel, Gauff recalled first meeting the 23-time Grand Slam champion.

"Serena and Venus, they’re my idols. So Serena was actually shooting a commercial at the same place I was practicing," recalled Gauff. “I saw somebody walking and I thought it was like a stunt double of her or something, and I thought ‘that looks like Serena.’
“She was walking over and I just kind of didn’t pay any attention to it and then I realized it was her and I was so excited. She came over there to just give me advice and speak to me.
"I look up to Serena too, with her looks and her hair and how she was never afraid to show her curls or her braids and with the beads, that was so iconic."