Coco Gauff has revealed she thought she was seeing a Serena Williams stunt double the first time she met the tennis icon.
World No 3 Gauff has previously spoken at length about how 23-time Grand Slam singles champion Serena, and older Williams sister Venus, have inspired her across her career.
And, in a video with Refinery29, the 20-year-old opened up about the first time she got to speak to the former world No 1.
Hilariously, Gauff revealed that she did not realise initially that it was the real Serena approaching her – thinking it was a body double.
“Serena was actually shooting a commercial at the same place I was practising,” said Gauff.
“I saw somebody walking, and I thought it was a stunt double of her or something.
“So I’m like: ‘That looks like Serena and she’s walking over here’. I kind of didn’t pay any attention to it, and then I realised it was her and I was so excited.
“She came over to just give me advice and speak to me.”
In the video, the 2023 US Open champion also spoke about how Serena had inspired her look during her career.
“For me, I want to be as diverse with my hair as I can be. I love to wear my curls… because you look good and you feel good. It almost makes you perform better.”
Gauff will be in action at the WTA Finals this week, an event that Serena won an impressive five times during her career.
The world No 3 will be making her third straight appearance and third appearance overall at the year-end championships, looking to better last year’s run to the semi-final.
However, the American has been handed a tough group in Riyadh.
She will face world No 2 and defending champion Iga Swiatek, sixth seed and doubles partner Jessica Pegula, and Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova in group stage action.
Gauff will likely need to win at least two of those three matches to progress though that could prove difficult, with the 20-year-old having a combined 2-16 record against her three prospective opponents.
The US star sealed her Finals spot after winning titles in Auckland and Beijing, alongside reaching the last four of both the Australian and French Opens.