(Provided by Tennis World USA)
Cori Gauff, 19, says beating Venus Williams at Wimbledon 2019 was “a pivotal moment” in her life. Four years ago, a 15-year-old qualifier Gauff stunned five-time Wimbledon champion Williams 6-4 6-4 in the Wimbledon first round.
For Gauff, it was her first Grand Slam main draw win. Now, Gauff is a top-10 player and has played in one Grand Slam final. “It was the start of everything for me. I think life is a domino effect. I don’t know if that domino didn’t happen or if that domino was pulled out where I would be now.
But I think that was a pivotal moment in my life,” Gauff said.
Gauff on what inspired her from Williams
Williams, who turned 43 last month, isn’t anymore one of the best players in the game but she still loves to compete. Gauff thinks Williams is a great example of what it means to love tennis.
“For me, Venus, the most inspiring thing about her is the love that she has for tennis. I don’t think that love has swayed over the course of her career. I think you can see players who are older now. You can have a feeling they probably don’t love it as much as they did when they started it.
I don’t have that feeling with Venus. I hope I’m the same way,” Gauff said.Also, Gauff highlighted Williams’ grit and fighting spirit as one of the most inspiring things about the seven-time Grand Slam champion.“Obviously just her grit for every match, every ball.
I watched a couple of her matches last week. Just the will to want every point is something that’s inspiring. I feel like I have that same hunger. I tried to continue to reach that level of hunger that she has for every point, no matter what tournament it is, Grand Slam or 250.
It seems like she’s just fighting for every point. I think that’s the most inspiring things in my eyes of Venus Williams,” Gauff said.
