Gauff surrenders to the Williams sisters: "They are an inspiration"

Coco Gauff arrives at the WTA Toronto 2026 with her spirits high after reaching the semifinals of Wimbledon. The North American hard court swing is possibly the favorite of the young American tennis player, who took advantage of her media time to praise the figure of the Williams sisters and the inspiration they provide for the rest of the tour.

Venus and Serena Williams are still playing at 46 and 44 years old, respectively. Although they have won everything and are considered legends, both still possess that competitive hunger that drives them to continue playing the most important tournaments on the tour, something Gauff wanted to highlight to explain their greatness and the aura they emit wherever they go.

Gauff talks about the importance of Gavin MacMillan joining her team

Yes, I believe that I have improved as a player, especially in my serve. I think that was the main focus when he joined the team. My recent results have shown that I’ve improved in that aspect. I’m still in the process of improving; I want to keep perfecting it and take it to the maximum. That’s why I’m very grateful for the teamwork that both he and J.C. have done to improve my game.

Inspiration from Serena and Venus Williams

It’s amazing and fantastic to see. I grew up watching the Williams sisters, and the fact that even two generations later they still have the same experience is truly incredible. The aura they have... I still get nervous every time I see them. I remember I was in Berlin and waiting for the right moment to say hi to Serena. Even yesterday, Venus was in the locker room, and I had to take a deep breath before saying hello to her (laughs). 

It’s the aura they bring to the sport, as well as their longevity. I think it’s really incredible for any athlete in any profession, maybe except golf because it’s a slightly less compact sport, but just being that good at a sport for so long. I mean, I don’t think I’m going to play at 40; well, yes, they said the same thing when they were my age, so we’ll see, but I hope not (laughs). I should have other priorities, but who knows. They are definitely an inspiration for everyone to pursue their dreams, regardless of age, the professional stage they are in, or what skeptics say.

Staying composed in delicate moments

Some matches go better for me than others. The truth is I can be quite negative during training. I think I was pretty negative during my practice yesterday. That’s where I release all my negative energy. But, honestly, in the match, I just try to give myself the best chance to win. I feel that tennis is a game of small details, so if you show something to your opponent, they might use it as energy. I try to give my best to show that I am calm; I’m not always, but I demonstrate it, and sometimes it’s just about faking it until you make it.

How to cope with bad weather

I suppose it depends on the situation. I’m not playing today, but I feel that on a day like today, you know it’s going to rain all day, so basically you relax until they might call off the play. But on days like those in Florida, where it rains and then stops, I think I try to stay active most of the time, especially if I have to go out and play quickly. The truth is it’s difficult; I don’t have a magic formula. I think the main thing is to ensure that, although it’s rare, you have to conserve energy because you don’t know how long the day will last, but you also want to stay active. So it’s about finding the balance between staying active and not tiring yourself out.

Gauff talks about her love for movies

Yes, I love movies. Probably my favorite activity. I went to see Spiderman last night, so it was a lot of fun. I bought the tickets about a month in advance, give or take. I bought tickets for someone in Florida and others in Toronto because I didn’t know where I would be. Yes, I love it. I think disconnecting is the best. Movies are the best way to escape, because you dive into that universe, whatever you are watching.

We are on tour, away from family, so it’s nice to find things that make me feel relaxed, and for me, that’s movies and escape rooms. We went bowling the other night, but I lost, so honestly, I regret going because I lost like 60 dollars, so... (laughs).

Gauff reveals how social media affects her

The good thing is that we can have a bit more control over our own narrative and our own story compared to before social media. When something happens, I can clear it up quickly online. Obviously, with more exposure to personal matters, you also expose yourself to more comments and the negativity that comes with it. Which, at times, is a hassle, but I don’t know, I guess it’s part of it. Obviously, it shouldn’t be that way, but one learns to handle it while growing up in this sport.

I started at 15, so at first it was tough, but I do my best to use the block button. I block what I don’t like. Sometimes I respond to some people or troll them. For example, when someone comments something, I sometimes respond with an emoji, a smiley face, or something like that, I don’t know, just to annoy them; I feel like that irritates them. For me, it’s great because I can connect with people. And also the amount of stories and direct messages I get from people saying that watching me play helps them somehow, and I like being able to respond. 15 seconds of my time really brightens someone’s day, and I think that’s amazing.

Praise for Alexandra Eala

It’s great for the sport and great for all players. Obviously, she is the one leading the initiative in that region, but I think she is opening new horizons. After my match in Dubai, several Filipinos came to support me just because of my comments about Eala. I thought that was awesome. I think it’s fantastic that a player can bridge gaps between a sport and a nation that perhaps hasn’t had that representation before. 

Also, it’s easy to be a fan of hers. I don’t know, I love playing in environments like that. I had a lot of fun in Dubai, and I would definitely like to play against her in another setting. Because even if they don’t support you, it’s still a lot of fun and makes you feel like you’re playing in, I don’t know, a basketball game, a bit like the World Cup, and I think that’s great.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Gauff se rinde a las hermanas Williams: "Son una inspiración"