Coco Gauff Says She’s ‘Not Trying' to Follow in Serena Williams’ ‘Footsteps’: ‘She’s the G.O.A.T.’ (Exclusive)

Photo:Clive Brunskill/Getty, Frazer Harrison/Getty Clive Brunskill/Getty, Frazer Harrison/Getty Coco Gauffis putting things in perspective. The 19-year-old tennis star — who’s a favorite to win the2023 US Open, followingher recent history-making tournament titles— opened up to PEOPLE about the pressures of repping USA, followingSerena Williams' decision toretire in 2022 after 27-plus years. “Yeah, definitely… I do think there’s a slight pressure and everybody’s looking at me,” Gauff tells PEOPLE exclusively at her New Balance pop-up shop, celebrating the launch of the Coco CG1 sneaker in NYC on Thursday.

Coco Gauff Talks Pushing Past Disappointment of Being Unable to Compete in Olympics, Focusing on Future

Coco Gauff.Photo: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for American Express As Coco Gauff continues her journey at the 2021 US Open, she’s also reflecting on one high-profile competition she was forced to miss this year. Gauff had to withdraw from the Tokyo Olympics in July after testing positive for COVID-19. Reflecting now, Gauff tells PEOPLE, “It was disappointing not to be able to go, but I think I was only sad for about a day, then after that I was of the mindset that you can’t change the past and everything happens for a reason.

Coco Gauff Talks Viral Dancing Video from 2012 US Open, Says She'd Tell Younger Self: 'Don't Lose The Dream'

Coco Gauff.Photo:Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images After winning the US Open on Saturday,Coco Gauffsmiled as she recalled a viral video that shows her as an 8-year-old dancing in the stands of Arthur Ashe Stadium.Gauff, now 19,captured her first Grand Slam title with her US Open win, completing a childhood dream she now says she maybe once thought was an impossible achievement. After the tournament, the American tennis star was asked what she’d tell her younger self if she saw her today.

Coco Gauff Teases Frances Tiafoe About His US Open Outfit, Jokes Carlos Alcaraz 'Looked Better'

Photo:AELTC/Jed Leicester - Pool/Getty; Vaughn Ridley/GettyCoco Gauffis serving off the court — fashion criticism, that is. Just ask fellow tennis superstarFrances Tiafoe.During a US Openpress conference, Gauff (whobeat Caroline Wozniacki Sundayto become the first U.S teenager in more than 20 years to reach the quarterfinals) said she’d spent some of her off-court time playing fashion police for some of the male players. She particularly gave a hard time to fellow U.

Coco Gauff Upsets Naomi Osaka as Serena Williams Falls in 3rd Round of Australian Open

Photo: TPN/Getty; Juergen Hasenkopf/Shutterstock Two of tennis' biggest stars are out of the 2020 Australian Open. Naomi Osaka, theAustralian Open’s reigning women’s championfrom Japan, andSerena Williams— a 23-time major champ fresh offher victory at the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand — both lost in the third round of tennis matches on Friday. Their defeats at Melbourne Park were two of the biggest Open upsets. Prior to that, in the bracket’s same quarter, Williams, 38, lost to Wang Qiang 6-4, 6-7 (2), 7-5, according to the outlet.