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Venus Williams Falls Short at Wimbledon, Folds to 15-Year-Old Cori 'Coco' Gauff

WBLS Staff
07/02/2019 12:00 AM EDT

Photo Credit: Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Getty Images

Five-time Wimbledon champion Venus Williams passed her crown down to 15-year-old Cori “Coco” Gauff after the first round of the ladies’ singles yesterday (July 1).

The day marked the teenaged tennis star’s Wimbeldon debut, and it’s clear she came out swinging.

According to Wimbledon, Coco became the youngest player to win the first round of the ladies’ singles since 1991.

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Although a huge defeat for Williams, Coco says she offered some words of career encouragement after the match. “Congratulations, keep going and good luck,” the 15-year-old recalls to the BBC. “I just told her I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for her, she’s so inspiring. I’ve always wanted to tell her that but I’ve never had the guts to before.”

During a post-match press conferene, Venus admitted she “didn’t play well.”