Coco Gauff, Inspired To Play Tennis By The Williams Sisters, Defeats Venus In Debut At Wimbledon

(Photo Credit: Simon M Bruty/Getty Images/2018 Any Chance)

Mother Time and a teenage admirer took Venus Williams down at Wimbledon.

Coco Gauff, 15, defeated Williams 6-4, 6-4 on Monday as play began in the British Open. Gauff is the youngest player to qualify at Wimbledon in the professional era; Williams, 39, was the oldest player in the field.

Tick tock.

Think of it as a passing of the racquet.

Gauff was playing at Wimbledon for the first time, where Williams has five times been the women’s champion. Williams had won four Grand Slam titles before Gauff was born.

Serena and Venus Williams inspired many children of color to play tennis. Gauff is simply one of them and she acknowledged her debt after winning the match.

“I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for her,” said Gauff. “And I was just telling her that she’s so inspiring. Like, I always wanted to tell her that. And even though I met her before, I guess now I have the guts to.”

Gauff wasn’t awed by her opponent, kept her composure during the few rough moments of the match and emerged with a victory that thrusts her into the spotlight.

“My goal was to play my best. My dream was to win,” she said. “That’s what happened.”

 
 
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman