According to the advance billing, Venus Williams was set to face a 15-year-old schoolgirl in the first round at Wimbledon 2019, but on No.1 Court the anticipated gawky youngster was nowhere to be seen. Instead Cori Gauff was every inch an assured young woman from the moment she coolly strolled out on court ahead of the five-times Wimbledon champion, delivering a display of breathtaking poise against 39-year-old Williams to create an utterly sensational upset. The world No.313 nervelessly triumphed 6-4, 6-4 in 79 astounding minutes, breaking into tears in her moment of victory.
“This is the first time I ever cried after winning a match,” Gauff told the BBC as she left the court. “I never thought this would happen. I don’t know how to explain it. I’m literally living my dream. Not many people get to say that.
“I definitely had to tell myself to stay calm during the match. I never played on a court that’s so big. I had to remind myself that the lines are the same size as any other court. When we shook hand she told me congratulations and to keep going and good luck. I said ‘thank you for everything you’ve done’ – I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for her.”
When the draw was made last Friday it was obvious that this was a terrifically intriguing match, but even allowing for the unburdened freedom that youthful innocence can create, few anticipated the events which transpired. Gauff, remember, arrived in SW19 having already achieved an historic mark, as the youngest player in the 51 years of the Open Era to earn a main draw berth by coming through qualifying. But what she produced here was nothing short of astonishing, and no matter that Williams’ ranking now stands at No.44.
It is only three months since Gauff earned her sole WTA Tour-level win. By contrast Venus – who won two of her Grand Slam titles before Gauff was born – was commencing her 22nd campaign in SW19, and bidding for her 90th Wimbledon singles win in this match. But if she is to reach that mark, it will not be before next year.
Out of the gate, Gauff’s serve was unflappable, not just consistent but perpetually effective with the first delivery regularly at 115mph. At 2-2 with Venus serving, there came the first hint that something seriously exciting was afoot. Gauff deliciously lobbed all 6ft1in of Venus, and then stung her further from the baseline.
Williams – disturbed by, of all random things, a noisy murder of crows in the new roof trusses of the court – put a Gauff return in the net to create break point. Having got the opportunity, the youngster scrambled desperately to stay in the next point, forcing Venus to play one more shot – which Williams sent wide.
Now it was the older woman who looked thoroughly discomfited, not just cornered into error but slithering unhappily to the turf. Gauff boldly served out the set with the sanguine ease of an old hand; and if anyone imagined she would crumble in the second chapter, they had their answer at 2-2 when it was Williams who sent down successive double faults.
At 4-3, at last Gauff’s composure faltered and Williams forced her way back to 4-4, helped along this time by a couple of double faults from the 15-year-old. If the match was going to turn around, this was the moment. Instead, Gauff attacked again and Venus had no reply.
At 5-4 Gauff served for a stunning win, although victory paused to wipe its feet several times before barging through the door. Venus crushed three match points with the calm play that long experience brings, and when she notched up a point to break back again, it seemed possible she might yet haul herself away from the brink after all. But if Gauff was feeling nerves, they were invisible. She served her way out of the problem, and moments later into the history books.
A final thought: this was Gauff’s first win over a top 50 player. But something tells me that is not what this match will be remembered for.
If the victory itself was not statement enough, later on there was no prevarication from the teenager when asked what her aim is this Wimbledon. Not for Gauff the commonly-offered homily “just to play my best”. Instead she declared outright: “My goal is to win the tournament. No matter who I play, I want to win. Throughout those four match points against Venus, I knew it was going to be mine, no matter what. I wasn't surprised that I won. I think people limit themselves too much. I like to shoot really high. We’re all going to die one day, and I want to make the most of it all.”
Happily, she also offered a reassuring glimpse of her teenage self. Asked when she last cried before this match, she giggled.
“It was watching Avengers: Endgame when Iron Man died,” she confessed. “Every time I think of it, I get teary-eyed. I really liked Iron Man.” She really is 15, remember. She took a school science test during qualifying last week, and her grade has come through.
“I got a B in the test,” she said. “But for this match, I give myself an A.”
