Coco Gauff Does Not Expect to Play Professional Tennis into Her 40s

The 22-year-old Gauff has spent her career chasing the standard set by Serena and Venus Williams, but she isn’t looking to mirror their timeline. While she views the ability of the sisters to remain competitive in their 40s as insane, Gauff admits her own priorities will likely shift long before she reaches that milestone.

Longevity and the Williams Influence

The Williams sisters have redefined athletic endurance. Venus turned professional in 1994 and recently celebrated her 46th birthday, while Serena, who turned pro in 1995, returned to the Tour in June after a four-year retirement that began in 2022. For Gauff, who has been a regular on the Tour since 2019, these figures are more than just statistics; they are the reason she began playing.

I think it’s really incredible for any athlete in any profession, maybe except golf because it’s a little bit less compact, but just to have, [to] be so great at a sport for so long. I mean, I don’t think I’ll be playing in my 40s, just, yeah, well, they said the same thing when they were my age, so we’ll see, but I hope not (laughing).

Coco Gauff, via MSN

Despite her pragmatic view of her own retirement age, Gauff remains deeply affected by the aura surrounding the Williams sisters, admitting that she still gets nervous every time she sees them.

Overcoming the Wimbledon Mental Block

While Gauff admires the Williams’ consistency, her own relationship with the grass courts of SW19 has been erratic. For seven years, Wimbledon remained the only major where the two-time Grand Slam champion failed to reach a quarterfinal. Gauff herself acknowledged that the grass and she don’t mix well, citing a lack of natural feel for the surface and a series of difficult draws.

Her struggle was evident in the years leading up to 2026, with two first-round exits in the previous three years. However, a strategic shift in preparation—opting to practice fundamentals rather than competing in tune-up tournaments—led to a breakthrough. Gauff entered the 2026 tournament as the seventh seed, eventually securing her first-ever Wimbledon quarterfinal.

The ‘Anti-Grass’ Strategy Against Jessica Pegula

Gauff’s path to the semifinals required a tactical evolution. Facing 32-year-old Jessica Pegula on Centre Court, Gauff abandoned the traditional “short point” grass-court ideal and instead played what was described as anti-grass tennis. By utilizing high, heavy forehands and flatter backhands, she forced Pegula out of her rhythm and away from the baseline.

The results of this baseline dominance were stark.

Point Length	Gauff’s Success Rate
9+ shots	Won 12 of 12 points
4 shots or fewer (1st Set)	Won 16 of 39 points
4 shots or fewer (3rd Set)	Won 24 of 38 points

Gauff also integrated rare aggressive plays, such as serving-and-volleying five times and succeeding on three of those occasions. This adaptability turned a surface she once feared into a platform for a pretty insane five-match winning streak on grass.

A Legacy of Mutual Admiration

The connection between Gauff and the Williams family extends beyond tactical inspiration. Gauff has frequently cited Serena as the primary reason she picked up a racquet, a sentiment she reiterated in 2019 after defeating Venus Williams in her debut at the All England Club. This bond was highlighted recently when Gauff immediately responded to a Serena Williams Instagram post with “GOAT” emojis just minutes after winning her own second-round match at Wimbledon.

Serena has reciprocated this praise, admiring Gauff’s rapid ascent and even expressing a desire to team up with her in padel. This mentorship and friendship serve as a bridge between generations, even as Gauff prepares for the next phase of her career in Toronto, where she is slated to face either Diane Parry or Kayla Day.

While the Williams sisters continue to prove that it is never too late to chase a dream, Gauff is content to build her own legacy on her own timeline, focusing on the immediate challenge of the National Bank Open after Venus Williams was beaten in the first round on Sunday by Kamilla Rakhimova.