Serena Williams and Coco Gauff: How destiny brought together two American superstars with French Open wins

Coco Gauff of the United States won the French Open at Roland Garros by defeating Aryna Sabalenka in the final 6-7 (5) 6-2 6-4. It was the 21-year-old's second Grand Slam title and also her first on clay.

As Gauff kept her calm amid a barrage of strokes by the hard-hitting Sabalenka, she also became the first American woman to win the French Open since Serena Williams lifted the trophy in 2015.

The similarities do not end here, as Gauff's career so far has some uncanny resemblances with that of Williams.

Coco Gauff won the US Open as a teenager, just like Serena Williams

Gauff won the US Open title, which was her maiden Grand Slam title, as a 19-year-old in 2023. She thus became the first American woman since Sloane Stephens in 2017 to win the title.

Coincidentally, the first of Serena Williams' record 23 Grand Slam titles came at the US Open only, in 1999. Williams was almost 18 then and went on to build an unmatched legacy as a player.

Williams then went on to claim her first WTA Finals title in 2001, months after she had turned 20. Gauff won her first WTA Finals title last year, again months after turning 20.

There are still more similarities in the career paths of the two American champions. Serena Williams won her first French Open title in 2002, months before she turned 21. Gauff has now won her first title at Roland Garros a couple of months after her 21st birthday.

Thus, the career progressions of Serena Williams and Coco Gauff seem to be fairly similar. However, there is one aspect in which Williams is ahead of her younger compatriot.

Coco Gauff is yet to be the world No. 1

Gauff has not attained the world No. 1 spot yet. Her career-high ranking is world No. 2, which she achieved in June 2024 at the age of 20.

Williams, meanwhile, attained the world No. 1 ranking in July 2002 at the age of 20. She then went on to spend 319 weeks as the World No. 1, which is the third-highest tally in the history of women's tennis.

Coco Gauff still has a long way to go in her career and might become the world's top ranked player in the world in near future. However, as things stand now, she is the World No. 2 and trails Sabalenka by almost 4000 ranking points.