Will Coco Gauff be a tennis GOAT despite Australian Open loss?

19-year-old American Coco Gauff was knocked out of the Australian Open semifinal, losing to reigning champion Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets (7-6, 6-4).

The teenage sensation did unbelievably to take the first set to a tie-break after a Sabalenka raced into a 5-2 lead to start the match.

Despite the loss to the reigning champion, Gauff battled her way to the semi-final after beating some top opponents, securing victories against Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk and Poland's Magdalena Fręch in the last 16.

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Gauff doesn't have the chance at winning a second consecutive Grand Slam, but her run to the final four has helped her surpass Serena Williams in many records.

According to express.co.uk, the American fourth seed surpassed Williams' record by registering the most appearances (3) in the Australian Open last 16 by an American teenager.

After beating the Polish star in the last 16, the American teenager reached her sixth Grand Slam quarter-final before turning 20, the same amount as her hero Williams.

Before the loss to Sabalenka, Gauff had been on excellent form, winning 34 of her last 38 matches and winning her maiden Slam at the US Open in September 2023, as reported by Sky Sports.

Her run in the Australian Open has continued to mirror Serena Williams' career as a teenager, with victory in the last eight meaning she has played 49 Grand Slam matches, the same as Serena.

In her short career at the top of tennis, Gauff has surpassed and come level with her idol Williams in many records, but she still has a long way to go to reach GOAT status.

According to statista.com, Gauff will have to win another 23 Grand Slam titles to become the most successful women's player ever, with Margaret Court winning 24 and Serena Williams securing 23.

Gauff has matched Court and Williams by winning a Slam as a teenager, but she insists she doesn't want to be compared to her idol, Serena.

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According to sportskeeda.com, after her US Open win, Gauff said: "Serena is Serena. She's the GOAT. I'd hope to do half of what she did. But I'm not going to compare myself to her."

"She's someone I look up to. Being in the same stat line as her means a lot to me. She's my idol. The only regret I'll have for the rest of my life is not being able to play her," she told the outlet.

"There were so many tournaments where if we won an extra round & didn't lose, I would've played her. I'm still happy to just be a product of her legacy."

There is no doubt that Coco Gauff has the potential to become one of the GOATs of tennis, as she is already matching the progression of the best in her formative years as a professional.

Her next shot at a Grand Slam will be at Roland Garros in France, which takes place at the end of May.

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