Coco Gauff admits what she finds ‘insane’ about Serena Williams after her Wimbledon comeback

After the match, former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash claimed Williams would have beaten 75% of the tour playing the way she did in the first round.

What did you make of Serena Williams’ level on her return to singles?

Serena Williams is OUT of the Wimbledon singles event…

Two-time Grand Slam winner Coco Gauff was similarly impressed by Williams’ level.

Coco Gauff says Serena Williams’ level was ‘insane’ in her first singles match at Wimbledon

During her latest press conference, Gauff was asked if she watched Williams‘ first-round match.

“Yeah, I watched basically almost the whole match,” she said.

“I missed the beginning, a little bit of the first.

“I don’t know, it’s hard to find where to watch matches here. I was at the restaurant, and I had to end my dinner early.

“Yeah, I thought she was playing really great tennis.

“Maya [Joint] played, like, top-10, top-five tennis. Obviously, she’s a great player. I’ve never played her before, but she was I think, top-20 before, or close to that. She’s a great competitor. She seems like an even, chill girl. I do think if anyone was ready for the moment, it would be her.

“I think Serena’s level was insane. For me, it proves even more how she’s the G.O.A.T. Despite, like, age and all that, I don’t know how she can play that level not playing for four years.

“I was already nervous not playing two weeks before this tournament. I couldn’t imagine four years.”

Gauff continued to wax lyrical about Williams’ performance, despite watching her idol fall short in three sets.

“She’s just the G.O.A.T. I just love her. I love her fight,” said Gauff.

“And the serve is unbelievable. It’s just crazy. I don’t know. I think it’s just insane how she can play.

“You just look at her, and you think, like, this is like 10 years ago. I think it’s really insane. I think it was cool for the sport.

“Obviously, congrats to Maya for stepping up and being ready.”

It certainly was a ‘cool’ moment for tennis, as fans of different generations tuned in to see if Williams could deliver another legendary Centre Court performance.

Williams fell short on her comeback at Wimbledon, but that might not be the last we see of her.

She could even play doubles with Gauff, after the young American confirmed she would be interested in the partnership when rumours spread that she had turned down Williams at the Berlin Open last month.

“I don’t know why this rumour is going around that she asked,” said Gauff during a Berlin Open press conference.

“Just know: if she ever asks, the answer will always be yes.”

So the door is clearly open. Whether Williams and Gauff can make it happen remains to be seen.

Coco Gauff survives major scare to advance at Wimbledon

Gauff may have ambitions of playing doubles with Williams, but has work to do in singles at Wimbledon.

She found herself in a spot of bother during her second-round match, dropping the second set against Argentina’s Solana Sierra.

Coco Gauff vs Solana Sierra – Match stats

Not for the first time this year, Sierra troubled Gauff, as she forced a match tiebreak on Court 1.

Coco Gauff and Solana Sierra’s head-to-head record

• 2026 United Cup – Coco Gauff defeated Solana Sierra, 6-1, 6-1
• 2026 Italian Open 3R – Coco Gauff defeated Solana Sierra, 5-7, 6-0, 6-4
• 2026 Wimbledon 2R – Coco Gauff defeated Solana Sierra, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6

Trailing 4-7 in the match tiebreak, Gauff won six consecutive points to seal the win and her spot in the third round.

Gauff was understandably delighted with the win.

“Yeah, it was obviously a really tough match. I think that was my first time doing a 10-pointer in the third,” she said.

“But yeah, I think I’m happy with just how I fought and competed. She was playing really big tennis. I was just trying to be aggressive when I could. But really happy with how I served today.”

Gauff will now turn her attention to the third round, where she will play Claire Liu on Friday, July 3.