![NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 09: Coco Gauff of the United States celebrates after defeating Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus in their Women's Singles Final match on Day Thirteen of the 2023 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 09, 2023 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)](https://webcf.waybackmachine.org/web/20230927103019im_/https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/230915130938-05-mouratoglou-gauff-williams.jpg?c=16x9&q=h_438,w_780,c_fill)
Coco Gauff: Even at the age of 10, tennis coach Patrick Mouratoglou was convinced US star would be ‘great’
![Walt Disney Television via Getty Images SPORTS - PRESS EVENT FOR "BATTLE OF THE SEXES" TENNIS - On 9/20/73 A crowd of 30,472 and an estimated TV audience of 40 million (the largest ever live audience for a tennis match in primetime) witnessed Billie Jean King, 29, defeat Bobby Riggs, 55, in three straight sets, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3, in the "Battle of the Sexes". (Ann Limongello/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images Photo Archives)
talent: BOBBY RIGGS; BILLIE JEAN KING
photographer: Ann Limongello
credit: Walt Disney Television via Getty Images
source: American Broadcasting Companies, Inc.
cap writer: WW/AL](https://webcf.waybackmachine.org/web/20230927103019im_/https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/230919185224-01-battle-of-the-sexes-tennis-restricted.jpg?c=16x9&q=h_438,w_780,c_fill)
Bobby Riggs said he could beat the top women’s tennis players. 50 years ago today, he got his chance