I never cook, but I made dinner that night," Gauff's anecdote about Venus Williams' return to competition

At the end of July, Venus Williams made her comeback in Washington after more than a year away from competition.

It was a winning return, as the 45-year-old American defeated her compatriot Peyton Stearns. In an interview with People, Coco Gauff, currently the world No. 2, shared that she dedicated her evening to watching this match, which she had eagerly anticipated:

"I never cook… But that night, I made dinner. Dinner and everything because I was so excited to see her play. It was the first match I’d been excited to watch in a while. My boyfriend was with me, and I kept saying, ‘Oh my god, I can’t wait.’

I think for women’s tennis, it’s amazing to see the longevity we can have, especially in a sport like tennis. I don’t think it’s as common in other sports, except maybe golf. I think we should enjoy this moment while it’s here.

And I think it’s incredible to see an icon still performing at this level for decades. It’s impressive. I don’t think I’ll be able to do that, and I don’t think many other players will either.