Cori Gauff on Monday overcame a 24-year age gap to stun Venus Williams on her Wimbledon debut.
The 15-year-old American is the youngest woman to qualify for the tournament in the Open era and displayed one of the biggest shocks in Wimbledon history by dispatching Venus Williams 6-4 6-4 in the first round.
Made for the big stage ✨@CocoGauff becomes the youngest player since 1991 to win in the first round of the ladies' singles, beating Venus Williams 6-4, 6-4#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/hfgcQGdZtq
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 1, 2019
Aged 39, Williams is considered Wimbledon royalty as she has been part of the All England Club family for over two decades, having won the singles title five times — including two before Gauff was even born.
But Gauff, the youngest player to qualify for the main draw in the professional era, was in no mood to play a lady-in-waiting as she made a mockery of the 24-year-age difference and 269 ranking spots that separate her from Williams.
Playing a fearless brand of tennis that belied her young age, she bullied Williams into submission.