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Serena Williams said that she was “nowhere near” as good as 15-year-old Coco Gauff when she was that age as the American great reached the Australian Open third round on Wednesday despite being far from her best.
The 38-year-old, one short of Australian Margaret Court’s all-time record of 24 Grand Slam titles, fought off a stubborn Tamara Zidansek 6-2, 6-3. Williams faces China’s 27th seed Wang Qiang next and could meet her fellow American Gauff in the quarter-finals in Melbourne.
The former world number one and Gauff -- touted as a possible long-term successor to Williams at the top of women’s tennis -- spent some of the off-season together.
Williams, sporting a pair of koalas painted on her nails in light of the devastation of Australia’s deadly bushfires, was mightily impressed by what she saw in “fighter” Gauff.
“She’s just impressive all-round, from her personality to the way she plays,” said Williams, the top-earning female athlete in the world. “I think it’s just all super-impressive.
“I was nowhere near her level at 15 either on the court or off the court, not even close. I know kids are growing up different nowadays, so I’m not sure. But I was nowhere near as smart and eloquent as she is. It’s nice to see.” (AFP)
The 38-year-old, one short of Australian Margaret Court’s all-time record of 24 Grand Slam titles, fought off a stubborn Tamara Zidansek 6-2, 6-3. Williams faces China’s 27th seed Wang Qiang next and could meet her fellow American Gauff in the quarter-finals in Melbourne.
The former world number one and Gauff -- touted as a possible long-term successor to Williams at the top of women’s tennis -- spent some of the off-season together.
Williams, sporting a pair of koalas painted on her nails in light of the devastation of Australia’s deadly bushfires, was mightily impressed by what she saw in “fighter” Gauff.
“She’s just impressive all-round, from her personality to the way she plays,” said Williams, the top-earning female athlete in the world. “I think it’s just all super-impressive.
“I was nowhere near her level at 15 either on the court or off the court, not even close. I know kids are growing up different nowadays, so I’m not sure. But I was nowhere near as smart and eloquent as she is. It’s nice to see.” (AFP)
