Youngest qualifier Gauff wants to win the title

Cori Gauff celebrates her win over Venus Williams in London. Pic /AFP

London: Cori Gauff, at 15 the youngest ever qualifier for Wimbledon, is not content with just beating five-time champion Venus Williams - now she wants to win the title.

The teenage American, who was not even born when Williams won her first two Wimbledon singles titles, showed not an ounce of fear on Court One, making light of the 24 years age difference and her ranking of 313 as she eased to a 6-4, 6-4 victory. Gauff made no bones about her ambitions at the tournament.

"My goal is to win it," she said. "I said this before: I want to be the greatest. My dad told me that I could do this when I was eight. I'm still, like, not 100% confident. But you never know what happens."

Gauff said she was determined to make the most of her opportunities. "I mean, like my motto is just like wing it," she said. "I've said that before. This is kind of a sad thing, we're all going to die one day, I just want to make the most of it."

Gauff, who revealed Rihanna and Beyonce were her role models off the court, said she had not allowed her admiration of childhood idol Williams affect her play.

However, she did have a slight wobble at the end when she let slip three match points. Williams, whose exploits along with her younger sister Serena inspired Gauff to take up the sport, made no secret of how far Gauff could go.

"I think the sky's the limit, it really is," said Williams. "Just have fun. Enjoy life. That's all you can do." Gauff sank into her chair and cried in the immediate aftermath of the victory. "I'm definitely really goofy off the court," she said.

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