Melbourne (AFP)
The youngest player in the Australian Open, Coco Gauff (67th in the world at 15), beat the oldest, Venus Williams (55th at 39), on Monday in the first round of the Australian Open, as she did it in the first round of Wimbledon last year.
The victory over the English turf had allowed Gauff to make a name for himself. That of Monday, obtained 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 is therefore a confirmation of his immense ambitions.
"My mission is to become the best. My goal is to win as many Grand Slams as possible," she said.
"I think I can beat anyone, but I think it's the mentality of almost all players. The greatest players fear no one" but "respect" all opponents, added the young American who will face next round the Romanian Sorana Cirstea (74th).
"She really wants to be a champion, she works hard to get there. She is very mature for her age. She has no limits," said the elder Williams sisters, ex-world N.1 and who counts to his record 7 Grand Slam titles, the last going back to Wimbledon-2008.
After her round of 8 on the London turf last summer, Coco Gauff won her first WTA title in Linz in October.
If successful against Cirstea, the teenager who recognizes "procrastinating on the TikTok application instead of doing (his) homework", as a reminder that she is still a high school student, should meet the title holder Naomi Osaka in the third tower. Another good opportunity to show the extent of his talent.
© 2020 AFP