Cori Gauff in action. Reuters
Cori Gauff in action. Reuters
Cori Gauff in action. Reuters
Cori Gauff in action. Reuters

Cori Gauff: five things you didn't know about 15-year-old Wimbledon sensation


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American teenager Cori Gauff made history on Monday by recording her first victory at Wimbledon when she turfed out her hero and five-time champion Venus WIlliams 6-4, 6-4.

At 15, Gauff is the youngest player to come through qualifying in the Open era and is 24 years younger than Williams.

We take a look at five things you may not know about her.

Who is Cori Gauff?

She is the American teenager who schooled seven-time grand slam champion Venus Williams during their first-round match at Wimbledon on Monday.

"I don't really know how to feel," said 313-ranked Gauff, who sunk into her chair and cried in the aftermath of her victory. "This was definitely the first time I ever cried after a match, winning!"

Born on March 13, 2004 in Atlanta, Georgia, Gauff took up the game age seven. She trained at the New Generation Tennis Academy in Delray Beach, Florida. When she was 11 years old, she was selected by Serena Williams' then coach Patrick Mouratoglou as part of his Champ’Seed foundation to train with him in France.

Known as Coco, Gauff is 1.76m tall, plays right-handed and before Monday's epic win had won $75,011 in prize money.

  • Coco Gauff became a sensation at Wimbledon, beating former champion Venus Williams on day one of the 2019 Wimbledon Championships. PA Wire
    Coco Gauff became a sensation at Wimbledon, beating former champion Venus Williams on day one of the 2019 Wimbledon Championships. PA Wire
  • Gauff of the US celebrates her match point winner against Williams. EPA
    Gauff of the US celebrates her match point winner against Williams. EPA
  • Corey Gauff, father of Coco Gauff, celebrates his daughter's victory. PA Wire
    Corey Gauff, father of Coco Gauff, celebrates his daughter's victory. PA Wire
  • Williams leaves the court following defeat. Getty Images
    Williams leaves the court following defeat. Getty Images
  • Gauff shakes hands at the net with Williams after their match. Getty Images
    Gauff shakes hands at the net with Williams after their match. Getty Images
  • Gauff scores a winner. EPA
    Gauff scores a winner. EPA
  • Williams returns to Gauff. EPA
    Williams returns to Gauff. EPA
  • Gauff during her first round match. Reuters
    Gauff during her first round match. Reuters
  • Williams during her match. PA Wire
    Williams during her match. PA Wire
  • Gauff in action. Reuters
    Gauff in action. Reuters
  • Williams looks dejected during the second set. PA Wire
    Williams looks dejected during the second set. PA Wire
  • Gauff holds the ball. Reuters
    Gauff holds the ball. Reuters
  • Williams during her first round. Reuters
    Williams during her first round. Reuters
  • Gauff in action. PA Wire
    Gauff in action. PA Wire
  • Williams plays a forehand. Getty Images
    Williams plays a forehand. Getty Images
  • Gauff reacts during her first round match. Reuters
    Gauff reacts during her first round match. Reuters
  • Williams in action. PA Wire
    Williams in action. PA Wire
  • Gauff in action. Reuters
    Gauff in action. Reuters

She grew up idolising Venus and Serena

Gauff said she was inspired to take up tennis because of the Williams sisters, who have won 30 grand slams between them. The Williams' had won 10 majors between them before Gauff was even born.

Monday's victory was only the second time since Venus' Wimbledon debut in 1997 that she was beaten in the first round of the tournament.

"She [Venus] just told me congratulations and to keep going and good luck," Gauff, who won the French Open junior girls title last year, said after the match. "I told her thank you for everything she did. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for her. I was telling her that she was so inspiring. I always wanted to tell her that."

Late call

At 301 in the world rankings, Gauff was not ranked high enough to get into qualifying but she was given a wild card by Wimbledon five days before her first match. At the time she found out, she was shopping online for a dress for a gala.

Gauff is still at school and had to stay up late to take a science test at 11pm UK time the night before her final-round qualifier. She went on to beat Greet Minnen 6-1, 6-1 in less than an hour.

Federer management

Gauff has been marked out for stardom for a while and is represented by the Team 8 management company, which was set up by 20-time men's grand slam champion Roger Federer and his agent Tony Godsick.

Gauff said the Swiss maestro had been a big help too her and could claim some credit for her winning the French Open junior title last year.

Federer said: "I'm super happy for her. I saw the last couple of games when she qualified. Obviously everybody was waiting to see what the draw was going to be like.

"It's a great story. Coco is a nice girl, works really hard. I think she's obviously got a wonderful future ahead of herself."

Ri-Ri and Bee

Gauff says pop superstars Rihanna and Beyonce are her role models off the court.