Tennis

Cori Gauff highlights one thing about Serena Williams, Venus Williams

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Cori Gauff feels Serena and Venus Williams’ achievements are “another level” and that’s why she is not putting the pressure on herself to reach those heights.

Gauff, 18, is often compared to her idols, the Williams sisters.

But Serena finished her career with 23 Grand Slams and using her as a metric for success just isn’t realistic.  

Gauff is regarded as one of the most talented players in the game and the general expectation is that she will one day become a Grand Slam champion and world No 1.

“I feel like not really. I feel like what Serena Williams and Venus has done is still at another level. I feel like it’s very hard to, I guess, feel like you belong on that level or that you should take over that mantle that they did. It’s very hard to, I guess, put myself in that position of feeling pressure. Let’s say Serena only won like two slams, then maybe I would feel it a little bit more, but I think 20-something,” Gauff said, per Sportskeeda.

Gauff looks forward to playing Emma Raducanu

On Monday, Gauff defeated Katerina Siniakova 6-1 6-4 to progress into the Australian Open second round.

Next up for Gauff will be 2021 US Open champion Raducanu.

Ever since winning the 2021 US Open, Raducanu has been constantly in the spotlight as massive expectations and pressure have been placed on the 20-year-old Briton. 

“Obviously she’s gone through a lot of pressure, bursting onto the scene. Probably more than I have experienced coming to win a Slam. And especially being from the UK, being like the first British person to [win a Slam] in a long time, probably is a lot more pressure than what I’m used to being as an American. Serena [Williams] is retired now, but she was always the American that people looked to. I definitely can relate to bursting onto the scene and dealing with some pressure but I don’t think to that level,” Gauff said of Raducanu. 

Gauff and Raducanu will be going head-to-head for the first time when they meet at the Australian Open.

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