Wimbledon 2019: 15-year-old Cori 'Coco' Gauff in awe after beating idol Venus Williams

Cori Gauff has served up the perfect excuse for wagging school, after the 15-year-old American caused one of the biggest shocks in Wimbledon history by dispatching Venus Williams 6-4 6-4 in the first round.

Aged 39, Williams is considered Wimbledon royalty, as she has been part of the All England Club family for more than two decades, winning the singles title five times - including two before Gauff was even born.

But Gauff, the youngest player to qualify for the main draw in the professional era, was in no mood to play a lady-in-waiting as she made a mockery of the 24-year age difference and 269 ranking spots that separated her from her idol, Williams.

Playing a fearless brand of tennis that belied her young age, she bullied Williams into submission.

"I don't even know how to explain how I feel," said Gauff, who wiped away a tear, as she walked off court one, moments after her remarkable win.

"I definitely had to tell myself to stay calm. I have never played on a court so big, but I had to remind myself that the lines on the court are the same size.

"Everything around it might be bigger, but the lines are the same and after every point, I was just telling myself to stay calm.

"I never thought this would happen. I am literally living my dream right now and not many get to say that.

"So I am just happy that Wimbledon gave me the opportunity just to play and I obviously never thought it would be this far," added the teenager, who was given a wildcard into the qualifying tournament.

Venus Williams and Cori Gauff post match.
Venus Williams and Cori Gauff post match. Photo credit: Getty

Before the match, Gauff, known as 'Coco', had told her Instagram followers: "Two of my teachers found out I played tennis after I made the main draw here."

If her Florida-based teachers needed any proof on exactly what she was up to, they only needed to tune into their TVs to see just why Wimbledon was going Coco-crazy.

A break in the fifth game of the opening set, which included a delectable lob over the statuesque Williams, was enough to win her the first set.

The nerveless display continued in the second set and she sealed victory on her fourth match point, when Williams netted a forehand.

"After the match, I told her just thank you for everything she did," Gauff said. "I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for her. 

"I was just telling her that she is so inspiring and that I always wanted to tell her that. Even though I met her before, I guess I had the guts to [tell her today]."

Reuters