Youngest American, aged 19, to win the US Open since a 17-year-old Serena Williams in 1999. Youngest woman, aged 20, to clinch the WTA Finals, last November, since a 17-year-old Maria Sharapova achieved the feat in 2004. These are just some of the milestones rising talent Coco Gauff has earned in her short career since she made her way to the professional stage back in 2019. At the age of 15, she faced one of her idols, Venus Williams, in her debut match at Wimbledon after becoming the youngest person ever to qualify for the All England Club. And the result showed in straight sets (6-4, 6-4). Gauff was a future star in the making.
She stunned Williams. But it seems like even after six years of competing professionally, she’s still young enough for some of the most remarkable milestones. Yes, she just unlocked a new achievement, thanks to a phenomenal run in Rome this week. Having turned 21 back in March, Gauff is still considered a young tennis star. The WTA highlighted her as the “Second-youngest to reach women’s singles quarterfinals in both Madrid and Rome in one season,” after she ousted British pro Emma Raducanu in R16 at the Italian Open. This was just days ago. However, it seems Gauff still can’t believe she’s that young to keep accomplishing new feats. In a hilarious reaction on social media, she wrote, “Been on tour for 6 years and the age stats are still coming lolll.” And guess what? She’s right. The stats are still coming indeed!
Following a poor form in most of the duration for 2025 season, Gauff has regained her momentum in the last one month. Firstly, she succeeded in reaching the summit clash of the Madrid Open. Unfortunately, she couldn’t win against World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka. And now, she’s repeated this performance at the Italian Open too. On Thursday, she ousted China’s Qinwen Zheng in an intense battle, that lasted 3 hour 33 minutes, to make her way to the summit clash in Rome.
Tennis Channel’s IG account shared a mindboggling stat about the American. With her win over Zheng, Gauff has become the youngest woman to reach the finals of Madrid and Rome in the same year!
Well, Gauff had a funny reaction to this stat as well. While resharing Tennis Channel’s post in her IG story, she wrote, “ thought the age stats would retire at 21 lolll. but I’ll take it haha”
But she deserves all the praise for her performance in Rome. The match against Zheng was a thriller that went into a decider. After Gauff earned the victory in the first set, through a tie break, the Chinese star snatched the second. The third set was a nail-biter as both the players gave their best, resulting in a second tie break of the match. Here, Gauff held her nerves and dominated Zheng to register the win with a final score line of 7-6(3), 4-6, 7-6(4).
However, the mission is still unfinished for Gauff. On Saturday, she would like to emerge victorious while stepping on the clay court for one last time in Rome this season. But who’s she going up against?
Coco Gauff to face Italy’s local favorite Jasmine Paolini
“I was just trying to go for every point,” Coco Gauff said after besting Qinwen Zheng. “I knew before it was going to be a physical match. Last time we played was over three hours.” reported WTA’s website on May 16.
She further added, “Overall I’m just happy. Wasn’t my best level at all, to be honest. Just happy to get through it and through to another final.” Gauff has previously reached the semis in Rome twice. However, she was unlucky on both occasions. Firstly in 2021, she couldn’t move beyond after arch rival Iga Swiatek ended her campaign. And then in 2023, the ‘Pole’ once again prevented her from reaching the summit clash.
But this year, Gauff’s got the best chance to finally lift the trophy in Rome. She will face local favorite Jasmine Paolini. The latter’s also in her maiden Italian Open final after she beat American pro Peyton Stearns in the SF. Speaking of Gauff and Paolini’s history, they have faced each other thrice across WTA events. The 2023 US Open winner is currently leading the h2h tally 2-1.
However, Paolini may have the momentum going for her. Why? She won their last encounter which happened in this very same season. During the Stuttgart Open last month, Paolini bested Gauff in the QF round. It will be interesting to see whether the latter can avenge her loss on Saturday. What’s your prediction of the anticipated final in Rome? Let us know in the comments below.
The post 21YO Coco Gauff Trolls Her Age After Snagging Another ‘Youngest’ Feat Ahead of French Open appeared first on EssentiallySports.
