Serena Williams not going quietly as Coco makes case as heir

Serena Williams suffered her earliest exit from Australian Open since 2006 but 23-time Grand Slam champion is t rey to hand over baton to heir apparent Coco Gauff just yet. 38-year-old Williams was downcast but quietly defiant in aftermath of her shock third-round loss to Wang Qiang on Friday, 27th-seeded Chinese winning 6-4, 6-7 (2/7), 7-5.

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Gauff upsets Osaka

Five hours later, 15-year-old Gauff pulled off an upset of her own, defeating reigning champion Naomi Osaka 6-3, 6-4 in 67 minutes. Gauff is youngest player to beat a defending champion at Australian Open in Open era, which began in 1968.

Williams h alrey won six Grand Slams when Gauff was born in 2004 and re heavy symbolism in older American passing younger one on her way out Melbourne exit door. But Williams signaled that she will t go quietly in her quest to equal or perhaps surpass record 24 Grand Slams won by Australia's Margaret Court.

"I feel like I'm on way up, so we'll see," Williams said, asked if she will be back at Melbourne Park 12 months from w. "I don't kw. I'm t even thinking about anything about t being here." 

And in a show of commitment that has me her one of greatest players of all time, Williams said: "I'm definitely going to be training tomorrow."That's first and foremost, to make sure I don't do this again." But Chris Evert, an 18-time Grand Slam champion, cast doubt on wher Williams will ever win ar Major. "Her best shot w has to be Wimbledon because she's won that so many times (seven) and her game is, I think, better suited to that surface than any or," retired former number one told Australian media.

"But I'm just amazed that she's still playing at a high level w at 38 years of . I have a lot of miration for her, but at same time (or) players are only getting better and you wonder how much better she can get." Williams's last Grand Slam title came three years ago in Melbourne when she was pregnant with daughter Olympia. American great has since reached four Slam finals but failed to win a set in any of m and her last defeat, in US Open final, was at hands of 19-year-old Canian Bianca Andreescu.

Gauff 'having fun'

If Williams is on way down, albeit reluctantly, Gauff is very much on way up. question w is high and how fast teenr -- youngest player in draw at Australian Open -- can go. Gauff and her idol Williams spent time on and off court in pre-season and Williams said in Melbourne that she h been "where near" Gauff's level when same tender . Gauff, who faces American 14th seed Sofia Kenin in last 16, watched Williams lose while she was waiting for her clash with Japan's two-time Grand Slam champion Osaka.

"I still get nervous when that happens," Gauff said. fast-emerging American beat Serena's older sister Venus, a seven-time Major champion, in her Grand Slam debut at Wimbledon last year. She n repeated feat in her Melbourne opener, before dumping out Romania's Sorana Cirstea after being a set and 3-0 down. Gauff was left in tears in third round at US Open after a 6-3, 6-0 mauling to n-world number one and title-holder Osaka. She mitted she was overawed by occasion.

But tables were turned in Melbourne and it was Japanese who wilted under spotlight of a showdown billed as a glimpse into future of women's tennis."Definitely a difference in mentality entering into match," Gauff said."I was a lot more calm. This match was hyped up, too, but also US Open was hyped up."I think w coming into this, I'm just going to have fun, play my best tennis and see what happens."

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(Im Courtesy: AP)