Serena Williams is a singular talent, defining and inspiring a generation of American tennis.

Yet her retirement is on the horizon. The 23-time Grand Slam champion plans to step away from the sport after the 2022 US Open, and the question of who will take up the torch as the next American superstar remains up in the air.

Sloane Stephens, Danielle Collins and Jessica Pegula, among others, have emerged amid Williams’ rise to superstardom, but none have taken the mantle.

As Williams prepares to depart, though, a crop of young, promising talent is on the rise in the United States. As they make names for themselves on the world stage, the next generation of American tennis is upon us.

Meet the next generation of American tennis

Coco Gauff

Coco Gauff’s rise resembles Williams’ in many ways, with the young Black star taking the tennis world by storm as a teenage prodigy.

“I grew up watching her,” Gauff said of Williams in August. “I mean that’s the reason why I play tennis. Tennis being a predominantly white sport it definitely helped a lot. Because I saw somebody who looked like me dominating the game. It made me believe that I could dominate, too.”

And dominate she has. In 2019, Gauff became the youngest player ever to break into Wimbledon’s main draw at 15 years and three months old.

Fast-forward three years and Gauff continues to dazzle. Now 18, she made an appearance in a Grand Slam final in June, falling to world No. 1 Iga Swiatek at the French Open.

Even at her young age, Gauff is known for her poise. She possesses a composed yet competitive demeanor on the court that sets her apart from her peers.

Known for her stellar movement and court awareness, Gauff possesses a tennis I.Q. well beyond her years. In the midst of her meteoric rise, Gauff has worked to improve her forehand, striving to match the pace and consistency of her lethal two-handed backhand.

Ranked No. 12 in the world, Gauff is the second highest ranked American player, four places below Pegula, who is 10 years her senior.

Gauff enters the US Open, set to kick off on Aug. 29, after suffering a minor ankle sprain at the Cincinnati Masters. The injury, though, is “really minor,” according to Gauff, who reassured fans that “the world is not ending” in a post on Instagram.

The Atlanta native will look to improve upon her third-round run at Flushing Meadows in 2019. If she does, she will establish herself as a force to be reckoned with at her home Grand Slam.

THIS is what the crowd came to see 🔥@CocoGauff | #CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/95FLcGQpmo

— wta (@WTA) August 16, 2022

Madison Keys

At 27 years old, Madison Keys does not quite fit the label of an up-and-coming talent. The Illinois native already has enjoyed a successful career, including an appearance at the 2017 US Open final and semifinal appearances at the 2015 and 2022 Australian Open and the 2018 French Open.

Keys’ run on tour has had ups and downs. Still, she managed an important breakthrough in Cincinnati, defeating Swiatek in straight sets at the US Open warmup for her first-ever win over a reigning world No. 1. She followed up the landmark victory with a quarterfinal win over Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina.

Her impressive showing in Ohio could signal a mid-career renaissance for Keys. The world No. 20 will aim to make a similar run in Flushing Meadows for her maiden Grand Slam title.

Madison's MOMENT ⭐️

2019 champion 🇺🇸 @Madison_Keys records her first-ever victory over a World No.1, taking out Swiatek, 6-3, 6-4 on home soil!#CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/GjrBHcXJe5

— wta (@WTA) August 18, 2022

Amanda Anisimova

Amanda Anisimova exploded onto the international tennis scene with a semifinal appearance at the 2019 French Open, which helped catapult her to a career-high No. 21 ranking.

Three years later, the 20-year-old sits at No. 24, and she has two career titles to her name.

Aminsova deploys an aggressive game against her opponents, blasting flat, powerful groundstrokes from the baseline. Her two-handed backhand is her secret weapon, and she produces an impressive number of winners off her preferred stroke.

The Florida native’s season hit a snag when she was forced to withdraw from her round of 32 matchup in Cincinnati due to an ankle injury.

While the injury could spell trouble for her US Open chances, she undoubtedly is a shining star in the next wave of American players.

Missed this while you were 😴 ?

Amanda Anisimova pulled off a stunning straight-sets win againt Lepchenko at @CopaWTABogota ! pic.twitter.com/0tG1JBOvKP

— wta (@WTA) April 11, 2019

The US Open will start Aug. 29 in New York and run through Sept. 11.

For the first time in the NWSL's 12-year history, fans can now buy their own goalkeeper jerseys. And while replica goalkeeper jerseys representing all 14 NWSL teams hit the market on Wednesday, some didn't stick around for long. 

Fans across women's soccer have long vocalized their discontent over the position's lack of availability on social media, often comparing the shortcoming to the widespread availability of men’s goalkeeper jerseys. And as the NWSL has grown, so has demand — and not just from those in the stands. 

"To have goalkeeper kits available for fans in the women’s game as they have been for so long in the men’s game is not only a long-awaited move in the right direction, it’s just good business," said Washington Spirit goalie Aubrey Kingsbury in an team press release. "I can’t wait to see fans representing me, Barnie [Barnhart], and Lyza in the stands at Audi!"

just went looking at #nwsl goalkeeper kit stock out of curiosity — Alyssa Naeher's $145 kit already sold out S-XL (league announced GK jerseys on sale 3 hours ago)https://t.co/8bYA7tlwcx

— Meg Linehan (@itsmeglinehan) April 17, 2024

Business does, in fact, appear to be booming. Alyssa Naeher’s Chicago Red Stars kit sold out less than three hours after the league's announcement. Jerseys for other keepers like DiDi Haračić, Abby Smith, Michelle Betos, Katelyn Rowland, and Bella Bixby aren’t currently available via the Official NWSL Shop, though blank goalkeeper jerseys can be customized through some individual team sites. Jerseys start at $110 each.

"This should be the benchmark," said Spirit Chief Operations Officer Theresa McDonnell. "The expectation is that all players’ jerseys are available to fans. Keepers are inspiring leaders and mentors with their own unique fan base who want to represent them... I can’t wait to see them all over the city."

Decorated gymnast Simone Biles took to the popular Call Her Daddy podcast this week to open up about her experience at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, revealing she thought she was going to be "banned from America" for her performance.

After Biles botched her vault routine due to a bout of the "twisties," she withdrew from the team final as well as the all-around final in order to focus on her mental health. She later reentered the competition to win bronze in the individual balance beam final.

In her interview with podcast host Alex Cooper, Biles admitted to feeling like she let the entire country down by failing her vault attempt.

"As soon as I landed I was like 'Oh, America hates me. The world is going to hate me. I can only see what they’re saying on Twitter right now,'" she recalled thinking. "I was like, ‘Holy s---, what are they gonna say about me?'"

"I thought I was going to be banned from America," she continued. "That’s what they tell you: Don’t come back if not gold. Gold or bust. Don’t come back."

Widely regarded as the greatest gymnast of all time, Biles has hinted at a desire to join her third Olympic team in Paris, though her participation won't be confirmed until after the gymnastics trials in late June. She holds over 30 medals from the Olympic Games and World Artistic Gymnastics Championships combined, and if qualified, would be a sure favorite heading into this summer’s games.

Caitlin Clark is reportedly close to cementing a hefty endorsement deal with Nike.

The Athletic was the first to break the news Wednesday evening, commenting that the deal would be worth "eight figures" and include her own signature shoe. On Thursday afternoon, the publication tweeted that the deal would top $20 million, according to lead NBA Insider Shams Charania. Both Under Armour and Adidas are said to have also made sizable offers to the college phenom and expected future WNBA star.

The new agreement comes after Clark's previous Nike partnership ended with the conclusion of the college basketball season. She was one of five NCAA athletes to sign an NIL deal with the brand back in October, 2022. 

Considering Clark's overwhelming popularity and Nike's deep pockets, the signing's purported value doesn't exactly come as a shock. New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu’s deal with the brand is reportedly worth $24 million, while NBA rookie and No. 1 overall pick Victor Wembanyama’s deal is rumored to weigh in at $100 million. And in 2003, LeBron James famously earned $90 million off his own Nike deal. 

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Clark’s star power continues to skyrocket, with the NCAA championship averaging 18.9 million viewers and the 2024 WNBA Draft more than doubling its previous viewership record. Following the draft, Fanatics stated that Clark's Indiana Fever jersey — which sold out within an hour — was the top seller for any draft night pick in the company’s history, with droves of unlucky fans now being forced to wait until August to get their hands on some official No. 22 gear.

In Wednesday's Indiana Fever introductory press conference, the unfailingly cool, calm, and collected Clark said that turning pro hasn’t made a huge impact on how she’s conducting her deals.

"If I’m being completely honest, I feel like it doesn’t change a ton from how I lived my life over the course of the last year," she said. "Sponsorships stay the same. The people around me, agents and whatnot, have been able to help me and guide me through the course of the last year. I don’t know if I would be in this moment if it wasn’t for a lot of them."

Former Oklahoma slugger Jocelyn Alo has signed on with Athletes Unlimited and will compete in the AU Pro Softball AUX this June.

The NCAA record holder in career home runs (122), total bases (761), and slugging percentage (.987), Alo was originally drafted by the league in 2022 but opted instead to join the newly debuted Women’s Professional Fastpitch. 

Alo currently plays for independent pro softball team Oklahoma City Spark, with team owner Tina Floyd reportedly on board with her recent AUX signing. AUX games are scheduled for June 10-25, while the Spark's season will kick off June 19th. Alo will play for both. 

Among those joining Alo on the AUX roster are former James Madison ace pitcher Odicci Alexander and former Wichita State standout middle infielder Sydney McKinney.

According to Alo, the decision to play in the Athletes Unlimited league was fueled by her desire to propel women's sports forward as well as provide more exposure to a sport that's given her "so many opportunities."

"Not only to challenge myself more, but just for the growth of the game," Alo said, explaining her reasoning to The Oklahoman. "I genuinely believe that professional softball can be a career for girls."

Joining AUX is also one more step in her plan toward representing Team USA at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

"I’m constantly thinking about how can I do these little things right in these four years to prepare me for the biggest stage of softball," she told The Oklahoman. "I definitely want to play in the Olympics, for sure."

Alo further expressed enthusiasm in the hope that the rise of other women’s sports, like women’s basketball and the NWSL, will push softball’s professional viability even higher.

"We’re seeing the NWSL (National Women’s Soccer League) get their stuff going, I see the WNBA starting to get hot," she continued. "I feel like the softball community is like, 'All right, it’s our turn and it’s our turn to just demand more.'"