Breaking News: Coco Gauff is thrilled to see her eight-year-old self in a Venus Williams match: No way someone found this

Reigning US Open champion Coco Gauff recently took a nostalgic trip down memory lane, thanks to a thoughtful fan who unearthed a cherished moment from her past. Sharing an image on her official Instagram story, Gauff delightedly reminisced about attending tennis icon Venus Williams’ match against Bethanie Mattek-Sands at the US Open tournament in 2012.

The heartwarming snapshot captured a young Gauff in the stands, soaking in the atmosphere of Williams’ first-round match. Little did she know that seven years later, she would be facing her idol on the court, and eleven years later, she would triumph at the prestigious tournament herself.

Expressing her sheer delight and gratitude, Gauff reshared the image on her Instagram story, acknowledging the discovery with heartfelt thanks.

“Wowwwwwww no way someone found this,” Gauff said.

“THAT IS ME WATCHING VENUS at Us open. didn’t even know the tv caught me in the stands. whoever found this shoutout to you omg. THIS IS CRAZY. time flies. lol I def was looking at the jumbotron to see if the camera was showing me lol. Thank you for sharing!”

Gauff’s admiration for Williams is no secret, as she has often credited her idol for inspiring her both on and off the court. Following her landmark victory over Williams at Wimbledon 2019, Gauff spoke candidly about the lessons she gleaned from the legendary WTA star.

She [Venus] taught me the importance of humility, and the importance of enjoying life outside of tennis, and also the importance of letting your emotions out on the court,” Gauff said.