Coco Gauff has paid homage to ‘idol’ Serena Williams after becoming the first American to win the China Open since the 23-time grand slam champion 11 years ago.

2024 China Open - Day 14

Gauff romped to China Open glory on Sunday (Image: Getty)

Coco Gauff is thrilled to follow in Serena Williams’ footsteps after winning the China Open title, becoming the first American to do so since the 23-time grand slam champion.

Williams lifted the trophy in 2013 and world No. 4 Gauff repeated the feat in Beijing, defeating the likes of Naomi Osaka and Katie Boulter en route to victory on Sunday.

Gauff, 20, has made no secret throughout her young career of her admiration of the Williams sisters – Serena and Venus – not only for their success but also their status as role models for aspiring black athletes. And Gauff admitted after the victory in the Chinese capital that she is motivated by trying to “emulate” her heroes.

Day Five: The Championships - Wimbledon 2016

Gauff has been vocal in her admiration of Serena Williams (Image: Getty)

Gauff, the 2023 U.S. Open champion, advised any young player – including China’s Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen – to do the same.

“The advice I have for any tennis player, but especially Chinese, I think me growing up as a black woman in America, not having seen that much representation in the sport of tennis, where it was just Serena and Venus, I think really pay attention to the people playing in the sport,” Gauff said.

“If you want to be the best, you have to emulate the best. I think just pay attention to tennis as much as you can, whether it’s me or another player, Qinwen or whoever.

“Also don’t let your circumstances or background affect your dream. No matter where you come from, it’s possible. Yeah, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”

Gauff said that seeing Serena’s name engraved on the trophy made the victory all the more special. The result was also record-breaking, with the Atlanta native becoming the first woman to win all of her first seven tour-level hard-court finals.

Coco Gauff offered a beautiful tribute to Serena Williams, who taught the young star to never 'settle for less'

She explained: “It means a lot when I saw that the last American woman to win this was Serena Williams.

“Honestly, anytime my name is mentioned in whatever sentence hers is, it’s a huge honor to do something no one has ever done before. It is pretty cool. I didn’t know that was on the line.

“I don’t know if it would have affected my mentality. That’s pretty cool. I hope somebody else breaks it. I think records are meant to be broken, honestly.”

Gauff has wasted no time getting back down to business since her victory. She has breezed through to the quarter-finals of the Wuhan Open, routing both Viktoriya Tomova and Marta Kostyuk in straight sets. Gauff takes on Magda Linette for a place in the semi-final on Friday.