Coco Gauff Admits It won’t be Easy to Join Serena Williams in Achieving Channel Slam

Coco Gauff would love to become the first player since her idol Serena Williams to win the French Open and Wimbledon in the same year but admits it is easier said than done and therefore she isn’t putting much pressure on herself to pull off a Channel Slam.

The 21-year-old American recently made history by becoming the first U.S. woman since Serena Williams to triumph at Roland Garros, and now she has set her sights on the grass courts of Wimbledon. Though the opportunity to match her idol Serena’s incredible 2015 feat is tantalizing, Gauff is wisely tempering expectations.

“I would love to do that,” Gauff said when asked about the possibility of pulling off the Channel Slam. “Also, I’m not going to put that much pressure on myself because I’ve been telling my team and people around me, this is all new territory for me. I’m trying to take it as I go.” Her honest approach reflects not only maturity but a strategic mindset as she steps into Wimbledon as the world No. 2 and a newly crowned two-time Grand Slam champion.

Gauff’s realism is justified. Historically, winning both the French Open and Wimbledon in the same year is extremely rare, especially on the women’s side. The transition from the slow, high-bouncing clay courts of Paris to the fast, low-cut grass at Wimbledon is one of the most challenging in tennis. Even legends like Serena Williams, who last achieved the feat a decade ago, found it difficult to master both surfaces back-to-back.

Moreover, Gauff’s track record at Wimbledon, while respectable, hasn’t seen her advance past the fourth round in her previous five appearances. Grass remains a tricky surface for her style of play, which leans heavily on movement and topspin—elements more naturally suited to hard and clay courts. “I understand why it hasn’t been done that often,” she admitted. “Except I guess Carlos [Alcaraz], he makes it look pretty easy. Novak [Djokovic], too.”

Despite these challenges, Gauff remains one of the brightest stars on the WTA Tour and a perennial Grand Slam contender. Her powerful baseline game, fierce determination, and championship pedigree make her a formidable presence in any draw. And while she may not be setting the Channel Slam as a do-or-die goal, her competitive spirit ensures she’ll be a player to watch.

Whether she lifts the Wimbledon trophy or not, Gauff’s balanced mindset and relentless drive suggest her best days are still ahead. As she wisely takes things “as they go,” the tennis world will be watching closely—because Coco Gauff, like her idol Serena, has the potential to redefine greatness.