While it’s certainly flattering to be compared to one’s idols, especially if said idols or influences are one of the G.O.A.Ts in terms of tennis history, the pressure of your career or journey constantly being viewed in parallel with someone else’s can also feel like too much, and while the older generations might have stayed quiet on the subject or just accepted the complimentary side of a comparison, this generation is speaking out and carving out their own unique stories. In particular, Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka.

It’s no surprise, also, that the majority of sports comparisons fall onto women in sport, in turn, minimizing each athlete’s individuality, and clubbing all women in sport together. It is a bit sus that two women tennis players at the top of their game right now would both be compared to Serena Williams, both Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff have had to comment on the comparisons, and while they of course admit to being inspired by the legend, the comparisons don’t really sit well.

Sabalenka, who has admitted to being compared to Serena in terms of her on court tactics, from the young age of 8 or 9 recently said in an interview, “Whenever people would call me different names, like current top players, I would just look and say, ‘No, I’m Sabalenka.’ I have no clue why and how it came to my mind to say this stuff. I watched tennis, of course, but I would never look at someone and think, ‘Oh my god, I want to be her.” Sabalenka then went on to clarify that she never had any idols, her focus was simply on her journey and relationship with tennis.

The comparison between Sabalenka and Serena is not unfounded. The similarities between them are striking, but so is the comparison of any WTA player with the Williams sisters. They are the benchmark. “It’s really inspiring … but I’m trying to focus on myself, on improving myself, to make sure that I have all of the tools to dominate the tour as they did,” said Sabalenka last year just before the WTA-Finals. Known for her powerful groundstrokes and hard-hitting aggressive playing style, Sabalenka’s consistency across all surfaces leads to constant correlations between her and Serena Williams.

“Of course, I want to dominate the way Serena was dominating the tour. But growing up, I didn’t have any idols.” Sabalenka said, “I don’t know if it’s good or bad because everyone was inspired by someone, and I want to be an inspiration for the next generation. I think that’s the goal in life. But personally, I was just too focused.” Sabalenka’s statement comes not long after Coco Gauff shared some similar sentiments, when put in a similar situation.

Coco Gauff’s thoughts on being compared to Serena Williams

“People compare me to Serena, but I’ve never said, I want to be her.” Gauff said, in response to many comparisons to the legend, “I just want to be me. I want to have my own story. My life, my rule is to just dream big and let’s see what.” Though Gauff has not discounted Serena’s influence on her game, even incorporating Serena’s focus on returns in her practice schedule, the emphasis on just wanting to be her own player and person is a significant similarity with Sabalenka’s outlook.

These are stars in their own right, Sabalenka having secured the No. 1 spot in both the singles and doubles categories, and holds the record for the fastest serve by a female player at 133 mph. Gauff, in turn, may have more reason to be compared to Serena Williams, winning both the 2023 US Open and 2025 French open, made her the youngest player to do so since Williams, but still, her playing style and trajectory are her own.

So, yes, maybe the days of idol worshipping in tennis are long gone, but doesn’t it make for a more interesting game when everyone is carving out their approaches to it for themselves, yes, party boy, Carlos Alcaraz included?

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