Tennis legend Venus Williams has never been one to follow the crowd, and now she’s making headlines for a coaching decision that has everyone doing a double take. Despite calls from fans and even whispers from inside the tennis world, Venus has made it crystal clear—she won’t be coaching Coco Gauff. Why? Well, that’s where things get juicy.
According to insiders close to the Williams camp, Venus respects Coco immensely but believes mentoring her would be “counterproductive.” Say what now? Apparently, Venus sees too much of herself in Coco—and that’s exactly the problem. “She’s a brilliant athlete, and she needs to carve her own legacy,” Venus reportedly told a close friend. “If I coach her, she’ll always be seen as ‘the next Venus.’ That’s not fair to her.”
Let’s be real—Coco Gauff is already blazing her own trail. She’s become a symbol of Gen Z athleticism, advocacy, and fierce fashion sense all in one. But comparisons to Venus and Serena have shadowed her since day one. Some even believed that a coaching partnership with Venus would finally push Coco over the edge into greatness. But Venus? She sees the big picture.
“You can’t build a legend on borrowed blueprints,” she’s quoted as saying. And while Coco has remained silent on the issue publicly, sources close to her say she understands and appreciates Venus’s stance. “It’s not a snub,” said one source. “It’s actually the biggest vote of confidence Venus could give—saying Coco doesn’t need her.”
Still, fans online are divided. Some call Venus “protective of her legacy,” while others say she’s showing true mentorship by not coaching. Regardless of which camp you fall in, there’s no denying this: Venus Williams just dropped a masterclass in confidence, boundaries, and respect—for both herself and the next generation.
In a world where sports stars jump at the chance to stay relevant through coaching gigs, Venus choosing not to ride the Gauff train might just be the boldest move of all.
