Tennis-Venus Williams, Coco Gauff pair up to play doubles at French Open

FILE PHOTO: WTA Premier 5 - Italian Open - Foro Italico, Rome, Italy - May 15, 2021 Coco Gauff of the U.S. in action during her semi final match against Poland's Iga Swiatek REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane

(Reuters) - Venus Williams will team up with teenager Coco Gauff - less than half her age - for a tilt at the French Open doubles title, with the American duo set to take on 13th seeds Ellen Perez and Zheng Saisai in the opening round on Wednesday.

Gauff, 17, burst onto the scene in 2019 when she knocked out her idol Williams in the opening round at Wimbledon before claiming another upset win over the 40-year-old, seven-time Grand Slam champion at last year's Australian Open.