Coco Gauff’s journey to Wimbledon 2025 is marked by a defining moment from her childhood that ignited her tennis dream and boosted her confidence. Revisiting her breakthrough victory at Wimbledon in 2019 against Venus Williams, Gauff reflects on how that experience laid the foundation for her belief in success as she prepares to compete once again on one of tennis’s biggest stages.
The Childhood Triumph That Changed Everything for Coco Gauff
On July 1, 2019, a 15-year-old Coco Gauff stunned the tennis world by defeating five-time Wimbledon champion Venus Williams in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4, on Centre Court. Entering the tournament ranked 313 globally as a qualifier, Gauff played with fearless precision against Venus, who was then 39 and ranked 44. The match did more than announce Gauff’s arrival; it symbolized the passing of a torch between tennis generations. Venus Williams showed grace in defeat, while Gauff emerged not only victorious but confident in her dreams. Looking back, Gauff said,
“That moment for me was the start of believing that maybe my dreams could come true.”
—Coco Gauff
Although her belief in herself fluctuated between ages 15 and 19, Gauff now reclaims the childlike confidence that propelled her initial rise. She expressed this resurgence of spirit just prior to Wimbledon 2025, emphasizing that the excitement and joy she felt during that match remain vivid and motivating.
In a video shared by Wimbledon’s official social media, Gauff reflected,
“I guess that world match is the one I want to pick—that’s the one that still builds the most faith, if that makes sense,”
she said.
“I feel like now I still have, like, that childlike confidence and also just approach the game just to have so much fun, like I’m really happy to be there.”
—Coco Gauff
This moment was not only about the win but about the internal shift it sparked. While Serena Williams advised her after a 2024 US Open loss that
“Literally all she needs … is just have confidence doing it,”
Gauff credits Venus’s influence six years earlier as the spark that transformed her from a dreamer into a believer.
Coco Gauff’s Rising Profile Ahead of Wimbledon 2025
As Wimbledon 2025 commences, Coco Gauff stands as the No. 2 seed and a favorite to vie for the women’s championship. Fresh off a French Open victory, she has demonstrated versatility and growth in her all-court game. Alongside rising stars like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, Gauff represents the next wave in tennis, blending emerging talent with polished technique.
Under the guidance of coach Matt Daly, Gauff’s serve and forehand have shown marked improvement, contributing to her status as a Grand Slam champion after winning the 2023 US Open. However, her track record at Wimbledon tells a different story. Despite entering the tournament as a top contender, she has yet to advance beyond the fourth round at SW19, reaching that stage in 2019, 2021, and 2024.
The unique challenges of grass courts remain an area where Gauff is still refining her game. For example, an early exit at the Berlin tournament, where she lost 6-3, 6-3 to Wang Xinyu in only her second grass match of the season, underscores the adjustments she still needs. Experts suggest that difficulties with movement and constructing points on grass could hinder her stamina in longer rallies, particularly against aggressive grass-court specialists.
Gauff’s opening Wimbledon match is against Dayana Yastremska, a player she has bested three times, which gives her an encouraging start. Potential challenging rematches include a second-round contest with Victoria Azarenka and a possible fourth-round showdown against Daria Kasatkina, who currently leads their head-to-head record 3-0.
The Competitive Landscape and Gauff’s Grass-Court Prospects
Looking beyond the early rounds, Coco Gauff may face top players such as Iga Swiatek, Jessica Pegula, or the defending champion Elena Rybakina in the quarterfinals or semifinals. An especially captivating rivalry is unfolding with Aryna Sabalenka. After tense encounters in 2024, the two players have publicly reconciled, with Sabalenka commending Gauff’s abilities, which has invigorated Gauff’s competitive edge going into Wimbledon.
Despite her growing achievements and mental toughness, some tennis analysts remain cautious about Gauff’s chances of dominating on grass. Tennis legend Tracy Austin pointed out a technical issue limiting Gauff at Wimbledon. She said,
“She’s been to the fourth round three times and never past that, and I think it’s because of the extreme grip on the forehand; players have been able to rush her on that side,”
and added that Gauff must
“go a little bit bigger on her serve”
to truly excel on grass courts. —Tracy Austin
Conversely, tennis great Chris Evert is optimistic about Gauff’s prospects, stating,
“She is going to win all of them, yeah. For sure, she can win Wimbledon,”
underscoring Gauff’s talent across all playing surfaces. —Chris Evert
With a Grand Slam title already secured and renewed belief in her potential, Coco Gauff enters Wimbledon 2025 energized, determined, and ready to prove that the confidence Serena Williams once urged her to find is now firmly within her.
What Wimbledon 2025 Could Mean for Coco Gauff’s Future
Coco Gauff’s upcoming matches at Wimbledon will test whether she can translate her recent successes and regained confidence into a breakthrough performance on grass. The tournament is a crucial milestone where she aims to overcome previous hurdles and cement her status among tennis’s elite.
Her evolution from a fearless 15-year-old qualifier who stunned a champion to a mature player capable of contending for major titles reflects both her talent and resilience. The journey influenced by Venus and Serena Williams and nurtured by expert coaching has positioned Gauff as a key figure in tennis’s future.
As Wimbledon 2025 unfolds, the sporting world watches to see if the spark from her childhood victory will once again fan into a flame, allowing Coco Gauff to ascend to the sport’s highest echelons and potentially claim her first Wimbledon crown.