By Richard Pagliaro | Thursday, September 18, 2025
Photo credit: James McCarthy/Getty for Lotte New York
Venus Williams has shared the court with Coco Gauff as both opponent and doubles partner.
Asked what advice she’d offer the 21-year-old Delray Beach-born baseliner, the 45-year-old Venus Williams kept it simple and direct.
Williams said she’d tell Gauff: Be true to yourself and remember you don’t need my advice.
Speaking to BetIdeas in an exclusive interview, Williams said Gauff has already exceeded what most players her age achieve.
“My advice to her — I don’t think she needs my advice,” Williams told BetIdeas while laughing. “Top five, No. 2 in the world, all those things. She definitely has been shining on her own.
“Honestly, she’s a role model. There are so many young girls who are starting because of her. So many young girls, that’s their favorite player. She’s just giving back just by doing something positive.”
A 15-year-old Gauff famously toppled Williams 6-4, 6-4 at the 2019 Wimbledon. Months later, Gauff defeated Williams in straight sets at the 2020 Australian Open.
Those experiences, in addition to partnering Gauff in doubles at the 2021 Roland Garros, reinforced Venus’ view that Coco is a completely unique player and should stay true to herself.
“She has her own game style,” said Williams. “That’s the beautiful part, right? You don’t have to be anyone else.
“You get to be yourself. That’s how you become the best player is really knowing who you are, kind of executing your own game. I’m just very proud of it.”
Years back, Gauff shared some informative on-court advice Venus gave her during a doubles match.
When Gauff was still ruing an error she made in a prior game, she said Venus turned to her and said: “Do you own a time machine? Because unless you have a time machine, we can’t go back and replay the point so let’s move on and focus on the next one.”
Though opponent’s say Gauff’s blinding speed and bold backhand are her biggest weapons, Venus Williams cites her strength between the ears as her greatest tennis tool.
“Her mind, it’s so strong,” Venus Williams said of Gauff. “She’s a fighter and such a competitor. When your mind is the strongest thing, everything else follows.”
