Coco Gauff has come a long way since beating Venus Williams at Wimbledon.
In 2019, 15-year-old Coco Gauff stunned tennis fans across the world by beating five-time Wimbledon Ladies Singles champion, Venus Williams, to win her first-round match at SW19.
Gauff, who was recently labelled as the biggest star in tennis, has gone on to become a two-time Grand Slam champion. The American won her maiden slam at the 2023 US Open before capturing the 2025 French Open title.
Venus Williams, now 45 years of age, will suit up for her first WTA Tour-level match in 16 months after accepting a wild card invitation to compete at the Washington Open. Venus last played at the 2024 Miami Open, where she lost to Diana Shnaider in the first round.
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Williams’ stunning comeback represents the dogged determination she holds, while contrasting the relative youth of some of her prospective opponents.
As Williams attempts to make a comeback, it is worth taking a closer look at her historic match against Coco Gauff in 2019.
Coco Gauff thanked Venus Williams for being an ‘inspiration’
Gauff, who was ranked 313 in the world at the time, spoke candidly at her post-match press conference, despite the enormity of what she had achieved.
At the post-match press conference, it was put to Gauff that she seemed ‘almost apologetic’ when speaking to Venus at the net following her victory.
Gauff said: “I wasn’t apologising! I was just telling her thank you for everything that she’s done for the sport and she’s been an inspiration for many people and I was just really telling her thank you.
“I met her before but I didn’t really have the guts to say anything so I was like ‘now or never.’”
Gauff was then told by a reporter that Serena Williams had commented, saying the young American reminded her of Venus.
Gauff responded: Oh yes, I definitely get compared to Venus a lot. Our body shape is kind of the same, we’re both tall, obviously play similar.
“But when I’m on the court I just feel like me.”
Coco Gauff’s round of 16 run at Wimbledon 2019
Coco Gauff’s run at Wimbledon 2019 did not end with victory over Venus Williams.
After defeating Williams, Gauff comfortably defeated 2017 Wimbledon semi-finalist Magdalena Rybarikova, winning by a scoreline of 6-3 6-3.
Gauff then foreshadowed her developing grit and determination by saving two match points to defeat Polona Hercog, 3-6 7-6 7-5. The victory was particularly impressive because Gauff came back from the brink of defeat at 5-2 down in the second set.
However, Gauff ran into Simona Halep in the fourth round. The Romanian star won 6-3 6-3 before going on to win the Wimbledon title that year, after defeating Serena Williams in the final.