Coco Gauff and Emma Raducanu hail 'Game-changer’ Serena Williams

Teen stars Coco Gauff and Emma Raducanu hailed Serena Williams as an inspiration and a gamechanging tennis legend on Tuesday hours after the 23time Grand Slam champion revealed impending retirement plans World No11 Gauff inspired to play tennis by Williams said she was shocked to hear her say the ldquocountdown has begunrdquo to departure for an icon who can motivate another generation of superstarsCoco GauffldquoThe legacy that she has left through her tennis career is something that I donrsquot think any other player can probably touchrdquo Gauff saidInspirational figureldquoIt is something that can inspire many more generations I grew up watching hermdashthatrsquos the reason why I play tennisrdquoEmma RaducanuWilliams became an African American icon in a mostly white sport just as Gauff is starting to do with two titles at age 19 and Gauff reminded fans that Williams is far from fading away even if her days in competitive tennis are nearing an end at age 40ldquoI mean shersquos not dead but people are talking about it like shersquos dyingrdquo Gauff said ldquoShersquos just moving onto different thingsrdquoGauff spoke after reaching the second round of the WTA Toronto Masters with a 61 63 victory over compatriot Madison BrengleAlso Read Serena Williams says countdown to retirement has begunReigning US Open champion Raducanu admired how the speed power and determination of Williams changed tennis ldquoShe definitely changed the gamerdquo Raducanu said ldquoTo dominate that much there has not really been someone who has dominated like her in the womenrsquos game She did change the game a lotrdquo The 19yearold British star also marvelled at how long Williams has remained a force in the sport from her first Grand Slam title at the 1999 US Open to her most recent at the 2017 Australian Open followed by trips to the US Open and Wimbledon finals in 2018 and 2019ldquoItrsquos incredible her career She has achieved so muchrdquo Raducanu said ldquoAnd to see her around in this US swing is really inspiring She keeps playing because she obviously loves the game ldquoThat longevity of a career is something that a lot of the players me especially aspire to achieverdquo After having watched Williams and her sister Venus while growing up Gauff said she dreams of being drawn against her idol next week at Cincinnati or in the US OpenlsquoAlways wanted to play herrsquoldquoIrsquom a little bit sad because Irsquove always wanted to play herrdquo Gauff said of Serena ldquoSo Irsquom hoping that my draw in Cincinnati or US Open or even here can work out so we can play each other Thatrsquos just one of my goalsrdquo Gauff realised Serenarsquos retirement will mark the end of an era one she has dominated since that 1999 US Open crown ldquoI knew it was coming eventually I didnrsquot know if it was going to be this US Open or the next one Itrsquos not really shocking but almost shocking newsrdquo Gauff saidThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever