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A match between Serena Williams and Coco Gauff may forever remain a dream for tennis fans. At the 2024 Tribeca Festival premiere of her docuseries In the Arena: Serena Williams, the 42-year-old tennis legend admitted she's unsure if she'll ever face Gauff. "I mean, let me ask my knees?" she joked on June 13.
Williams, now focused on her ventures outside of tennis, including parenting daughters Adira, born in August 2023, and Olympia, 6½, with her husband Alexis Ohanian, shared, "I have to be the best mom. I have to go to all of Olympia's things at her school."
Reflecting on her career with Olympia, she told PEOPLE, "I told her the other day that she was in my belly when I won the 2017 Australian Open, and she was surprised. She's now at an age where she can understand more." Williams revealed she’s slowly been able to reflect on her illustrious career, particularly sharing these moments with her daughter.
Despite her focus on life off the court, Williams’s competitive spirit remains strong. However, she’s channeling that drive into new ventures and being a present parent. Williams’s legacy in tennis continues to inspire, even as she steps back from the game.
Coco Gauff, 20, considers Williams her idol and a dream opponent. "The only regret I’ll have for the rest of my life is not being able to play her," Gauff told ESPN in September 2023. "But I'm happy to be a product of her legacy and be out here for American tennis."
After winning her first Grand Slam title at the 2023 US Open, Gauff added, "She’s the GOAT. I’d hope to do half of what she did. But I’m not gonna compare myself to her." Gauff’s admiration for Williams underscores the profound impact Williams has had on the next generation of tennis players, solidifying her status as a legendary figure in the sport.
