'Nervous' Coco Gauff sends Venus Williams packing in Wimbledon repeat
Teen sensation Coco Gauff has proven her stunning victory over Venus Williams at Wimbledon last year was no fluke by again sending the seven-time Grand Slam winner home.
In a battle between the youngest and oldest players in the women's draw, 15-year-old Gauff took down Williams - 24 years her senior - 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 under the roof at Melbourne Arena.
Following her victory over Williams, Gauff admitted that she was nervous when the draw came out and pitted her against the veteran.
"It was really difficult," Gauff said after the win.
Gauff shakes Williams' hand after her first-round win at the Australian Open Getty
"She played really well and I mean I was really nervous for this match. I was shocked like everybody else when they saw the draw come out. I am glad I was able to get through it."
However, if Gauff was truly nervous, she did not show it, even taunting her veteran opponent during one stage of the match.
With the pair locked in a tiebreak in the opening set, Gauff unleashed an aggressive celebration, with Nine's Sam Groth noting that the teenager got "right in the face" of her more experienced opponent.
After prevailing over Williams, Gauff will face Romania's Sorana Cirstea in the second round, the first time the pair will face off in their professional careers.
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