Cori Gauff posted a tribute TikTok video for Serena Williams and said that she will “never be Serena.” Gauff, 18, is now one of the most promising and talented players in the game. With Gauff reaching the French Open earlier this year and now been through to the US Open quarterfinal, some still believe she is “the next Williams.”
“Forever the GOAT (emoticon). Thank you, Serena Williams,” Gauff captioned her TikTok video. According to Sportskeeda, one fan called Gauff the new Williams in the comment, to which Gauff responded: “No. I will never be her.”
Gauff paid tribute to Serena and Venus Williams
Growing up, Gauff looked up to the Williams sisters. After beating Venus at 2019 Wimbledon – when she was just 15 years old – Gauff stopped the seven-time Grand Slam champion at the net to tell her that she was standing there because of her.
With Serena retiring and Venus likely ending her career in the near future, Gauff hopes follow in their footsteps and be the next great role model for kids around the world. “I think heroes are important. You look at Serena Williams and Venus Williams, their situation they came through, not having as much money financially and coming through a tough neighborhood in Compton, and me, I know I live a better life than they probably did in that aspect better, quote, unquote,” Gauff said, via Sportskeeda.
“I think for me, even knowing that, it made me feel that I could do it. So I hope that somebody can look at me and say that I feel like I can do it because she did it. You know, you have these heroes like LeBron James, Allyson Felix, the list goes on, Simone Biles, you have these heroes living their lives and you can’t imagine how inspiring it is to see that.”
