What Roger Federer was like with Coco Gauff back in 2020 when she was playing her first ever Australian Open

Follow us on Google Discover

Coco Gauff already boasts a phenomenal honours list aged just 20, with much more silverware still to come.

Andy Roddick has tipped Gauff for big things, with the latter having ended her season as the WTA Finals champion.

Gauff is also already a Grand Slam champion, having beaten Aryna Sabalenka to win the 2023 US Open in New York.

She is now focusing on team glory at the United Cup, where she helped the USA beat Canada in their group stage opener.

Gauff beat Leylah Fernandez before pairing with Taylor Fritz in the mixed doubles as the USA won 2-1 in Perth.

What Roger Federer was like with Coco Gauff at the 2020 Australian Open

The event comes ahead of the Australian Open, a tournament in which Gauff reached the fourth round on debut in 2020 aged just 15.

The American beat defending champion Naomi Osaka in round three that year, and was asked in her post-match press conference if she could take herself back a couple of years when she lost in the first round of the juniors event.

READ MORE: Coco Gauff explains why she chose to play at the United Cup ahead of the Australian Open

“Yes, someone who came up to me was Roger [Federer], and that definitely had a big impact, because I think I won French Open,” said Gauff.

“I’m pretty sure French Open was my next tournament after that conversation I ended up winning. And actually Roger was also the third person I saw after my match today.

“After today, I still haven’t seen my parents. I saw Roger first and Alessandro and Tony. So, yeah, inside he told me, Congrats. I was, like, Thank you, trying to be calm. Inside, I was, like, Oh, wow.”

How did Coco Gauff feel about having the same agent as Roger Federer?

Her memorable run in Melbourne not only involved beating the defending champion, but a first round win over Venus Williams.

Gauff beat Williams on her Wimbledon debut in 2019, another event in which she reached the fourth round.

READ MORE: What Rafael Nadal said about Coco Gauff after she won her debut match at the US Open in 2019, he had one really big hope

Not long after, a US Open triumph went her way, with Gauff having previously lost the 2022 French Open final to Iga Swiatek.

She was also tasked with discussing matters off the court at the 2020 Australian Open, having been asked if it helps her career having the same agent as Federer.

“Yes and no,” she replied. “I feel like Roger would have always been nice to me regardless, even though we have the Team8 connection. He’s a nice person, and not just to me but I see him with other players, as well. He’s that type of guy.

“No matter how many times you speak to him, you’re still kind of in awe of his whole presence and what he’s done on the court and off the court.”

Gauff’s 2024 Australian Open semi-final run was her best result in the competition so far, with the American also reaching the final four of the French Open last time out.