Coco Gauff pays touching tribute to Serena Williams at US Open 2022

Coco Gauff kicked off her US Open 2022 campaign with a win over France’s Leolia Jeanjean in one hour and 20 minutes. The 18-year-old beat her opponent 6-2 6-3. 

Gauff after her game gave a touching on-court tribute to 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams.The teenager said that if it wasn’t for the tennis veteran she wouldn’t be competing at the biggest stage. 

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Gauff is the 12th seed at this year’s US Open. She fired eight aces, won 91% of her first-serve points and did not face a single break point in the match. Her impenetrable serve topped at 118 mph. The 18-year-old lost only two  points on her first serve against the World No 149. She will face either Australia’s Daria Saville or Romania’s Elena Gabriela Ruse in the second round match. 

“This is my first win on Ashe and I think this is my fourth match on this court. Finally I got a win here so thanks for coming out to support me. Anytime you can win a match it’s a good day. I was nervous coming into today but once the nerves settled I was having a lot of fun out there,” Gauff said after the match. 

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“I didn’t even know that I lost only two points on first serve. Sometimes I just try to hit it as hard as I can.”

Many fans arriving for the day session at the final Grand Slam event of the season were focused on the match that would lead off the action at night. Williams, the 23-time major champion who has said she is preparing to end her tennis career, was scheduled to face Danka Kovinic.

Coco Gauff wasn’t going to miss it, saying she was going to change plans and attend instead of watching on TV in her hotel room.

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“As I thought about it, I was, like, I have to watch,” the 18-year-old American said after her straight-sets victory. “I’m excited and, you know, it’s not often we watch live matches, to be honest.”

Williams figured to face more comfortable conditions after a hot start under a sunny sky in Flushing Meadows. 

“We all know Serena and the legacy she’s had on the court and I definitely wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for her. I hope you guys cheer your hardest for her tonight, she definitely deserves it all and more,” Gauff said. 

“I think if I could make the stadium twice the size it is she definitely deserves that and I hope that we can see her for some more rounds here.”

“But to be honest, she doesn’t owe anything else on the court and I’m just thankful for her.”

She further added that Serena Williams has had an impact and has inspired several Black athletes, including herself. 

“Before Serena came along, there was not really an icon of the sport that looked like me. So growing up, I never thought that I was different because the No. 1 player in the world was somebody who looked like me. I think that’s the biggest thing that I can take from what I’ve learned from Serena.”