"She (Serena Williams) doesn't know this, but the first money I ever made for myself was because of her doing a commercial" - Coco Gauff
Coco Gauff has emulated Serena Williams not just in her tennis career but also in a commercial.
On US Open Media Day, Gauff shared how she first met one of her role models – the other was Serena's big sister Venus Williams – by being her stunt double in an ad, allowing her to earn herself a first paycheck.
"I first met Serena (Williams), she definitely doesn't know this, I think I was nine or 10 years old. They needed a stunt double to play a young version of her, just the face down. I think it was for a Delta commercial.
"I don't think they ever used it, but that was, like, my first check I ever got as a kid. She (Serena Williams) doesn't know this, but the first money I ever made for myself was because of her doing a commercial," said Coco Gauff.
Gauff added that she met Serena and took a picture with her during filming, which she believes the six-time US Open champ and 23-time Major winner would not remember.
"I met her (Serena Williams). I stopped by her trailer, took a picture. She probably doesn't even know. My mom actually sent me a picture, like, a couple of weeks ago of me waiting, getting my hair done by the people," added Coco Gauff.
Gauff also touched on her commercial stint as a body double for the 40-year-old soon-to-retire star Williams in her ESPN Cover Story feature.
The 2022 French Open runner-up shared that she mistakenly thought that the director had asked her to serve like Serena – writer Alyssa Roenigk wrote that Gauff was only asked if she could serve – so she hit it as hard as she could and made it.
"It was so cool," said Gauff. "I remember trying to hit the serve so hard. And I made it in."
"Hopefully one day we can get the No. 1 singles ranking. I guess my goal now is to try to be No. 1 at both at the same time" - Coco Gauff
Coco Gauff holds the No. 1 spot in doubles for nearly two weeks now and she doesn't want to stop there.
Eyeing lofty goals, Gauff eyes the same top ranking in singles as well. After getting a lot of success in the doubles department, Gauff wants to translate that success to her singles career.
"It's pretty cool to be No. 1 in something. It's a, I guess, a surprising goal that I hit. I always say pretty much from my juniors, junior career, that all my firsts have been in doubles. Hopefully, one day, we can get the No. 1 singles ranking. I guess my goal now is to try to be No. 1 at the both at the same time. That might take some time, but that would be pretty cool, too," said Gauff during the US Open's Media Day.
There’s a new doubles No.1 🌹☝️
“Mom cancelled her hair appointment” to join the celebrations 😂
@CocoGauff | #BJKCup https://t.co/tqfb3McOM6
Gauff will start her singles campaign at the last Grand Slam of the year against qualifier Leolia Jeanjean in the first round.