“To even have 5% of that, means so much”: Coco Gauff gets real about Serena Williams’ legacy after becoming 1st American since idol to win French Open

Coco Gauff recently opened up on her feelings having become the first American singles champion at the French Open since her legendary idol Serena Williams won the clay Major in 2015. Gauff once again cited Williams as the inspiration that drove her pursuit of a successful tennis-playing career, and also beamed with pride at being in a conversation alongside the 23-time singles Grand Slam winner.

Speaking to NBC News in the wake of her gritty three-set comeback win in the French Open final against World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, the 21-year-old said:

“It means a lot (to be the first American woman to win the French Open since Serena Williams in 2015). She’s the reason I picked up the racket and the sport and have the belief that I do.”

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Coco Gauff went on to lay bare her pride at putting the USA back into the limelight as far as potential singles success at the clay Major is concerned. On the men's side, Andre Agassi was the last American to taste singles glory at Roland Garros, way back in 1999. The WTA No. 2 added:

"And for me, to be able to be in any conversation with her, obviously she has her own legacy that will never be touched, but for me just to even have like a 5% of that, means so much to me and dreaming big and watching her compete in real life... I don't know. It's just crazy to say that 10 years later, I'm here with that trophy after she held it, so it means a lot and to finally put Americans back in that French Open conversation."

Amid her campaign at this year's Roland Garros, Gauff happened to meet Serena Williams' elder sister Venus, who gave her young compatriot a morale boost with words of praise.

Venus Williams boldly predicted Coco Gauff's singles success at French Open; spoke highly about young compatriot's positives

The inactive Venus Williams was at Roland Garros this year as an analyst and commentator for TNT Sports. The former No. 1 and seven-time singles Major champion met Coco Gauff as the 21-year-old joined the television sport network's panel covering the clay Major ahead of her campaign. During the high-profile meeting, Williams told Gauff:

"I know you have big dreams, and to win this tournament you went so close (in 2022). And you're going to absolutely do it. But, you have to do it one match at a time, but you got the goods. You got the attitude. I mean, you want to win every point, maybe too much sometimes. So the passion is there."

Later, Coco Gauff called her meeting with Williams an "honor". Interestingly, the 21-year-old won the women's doubles title at Roland Garros last year alongside Katerina Siniakova.

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Sudipto Pati

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