Coco Gauff Honors Trailblazers as She Carves Her Own Historic Path
For over a quarter-century, Serena Williams defined dominance in tennis, amassing 23 Grand Slam titles and 73 career wins. Now, Coco Gauff, another African American star, is writing her own chapter of history. At just 19, Gauff captured the 2023 US Open, becoming the youngest American woman to win a Grand Slam since Serena Williams in 1999.
In her post-victory press conference, Gauff acknowledged the women who paved her way: “It’s an honor to be in that stat with Althea Gibson, Serena, Venus, Naomi, Sloane… they paved the way for me to be here.” Currently ranked No. 3 in the world, Gauff is proving her commitment to honoring their legacies.
Before the Williams sisters, there was Althea Gibson. A true pioneer, Gibson shattered racial barriers in a segregated sport. In 1957, she became the first African American to win both Wimbledon and the U.S. Nationals, achieving the world’s top ranking. Her journey, marked by exclusion from major tournaments in the 1940s and early 1950s, culminated in her groundbreaking 1950 invitation to the Eastern Lawn Tennis Association Grass Court Championships.
Gauff actively pays tribute to Gibson. Following her US Open victory, she shared an Instagram reel dedicated to the legend, emphasizing, “Really incredible to see how far this country has come, and people of color and black people in general. It takes the works of many others to pave the way.” Her mother, Candi Gauff, also shared the tribute, celebrating both Gibson’s legacy and her daughter’s achievement.
Since her US Open triumph, Gauff has experienced a rollercoaster of success. After a period of inconsistent performance, she rebounded with a victory at the China Open and then secured the WTA Finals title against World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka.
While she has yet to win a title this season, Gauff continues to demonstrate her exceptional talent and character. Beyond the court, she has made significant contributions, including a donation to the UNCF to support Black students pursuing education and competitive tennis.
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