Coco Gauff has revealed the clever tactic she used to upset Venus Williams at Wimbledon as a 15-year-old and has urged Maya Joint to employ the same strategy against Serena Williams in their first-round clash at the 2026 Championships.
Gauff's Advice: Ignore the Scoreboard
The world No.7, now 22, said the key is to avoid looking at the scoreboard so as not to be overwhelmed by the occasion. “When I was in that position, I didn't look at scoreboard the whole match. I did not want to see Venus' name,” Gauff said. “No matter how much you try to block it out, I feel like once you see the name, it makes seem everything real. Maybe don't look at the scoreboard. Also you have to go in with the belief you can win and expect that they're going to play great tennis now.”
Serena Williams is returning to Wimbledon for the first time since 2022, marking her first Grand Slam singles appearance since the 2022 US Open. The 23-time major champion faces Australian teenager Maya Joint in the opening round.
No Scouting Report for Serena's Return
Gauff noted that with Serena having been away from the tour, Joint cannot rely on recent match footage. “It's different. We haven't seen Serena play in many years, so there's not really much a scouting report you can go off of. I definitely think she has to go in it believing she can win,” Gauff added. “We haven't seen her play. I don't know how the match is going to be. Anyone playing a Williams sister, I don't know what court they're going to be on, I'm sure it's going to be Centre or Court 1, it's not going to be easy.”
Serena is a seven-time Wimbledon singles champion, while Venus has won five singles titles at the All England Club.
Gauff's Own Wimbledon Campaign
Gauff, who begins her tournament against Tamara Korpatsch, reflected on the profound influence the Williams sisters have had on her career. “Oh, the biggest [impact],” she said. “I played the sport because of them, believed that I could do things because of them. I look up to them a lot. Even when I played them, I'm still admiring. I think that's the only time that's happened to me in this sport.”
