Coco Gauff, the 19-year-old rising star in women’s tennis, clinched her maiden Grand Slam this year at the US Open, showing potential for her future greatness in the sport. Serena Williams’ former coach has offered some remarkable insights into Gauff’s probable trajectory, emphasizing both her strengths and the challenges she faces in reaching her zenith.
In a recent appearance on the Match Point Canada podcast, Serena Williams’ famous coach Rick Macci shared his perspective on Gauff’s promising career, acknowledging her as the “best female athlete on the tour” and even likening her to an Olympic sprinter. He stated, “Coco, the best female athlete on the tour. She’s an Olympic sprinter with a racquet in her hand.”
Coco Gauff is already preparing for the 2024 season.
She’s coming. 🇺🇸❤️ pic.twitter.com/rn9OiZH8Yd
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) November 16, 2023
However, the renowned Hall of Fame coach has issued a subtle warning regarding Coco Gauff’s forehand, which raised curiosity about how she would tackle this aspect of her game. He mentioned, “The forehand’s a little dodgy. I know she kinda covered it up during the summer, but there’s a little bump there.” He further pointed out that the issue with her forehand became more apparent with changes in the pace of the ball.
While acknowledging that Gauff is not on the same level as Serena Williams, Macci confidently predicts multiple Grand Slam victories in the future. He said, “She’s not Serena, but she can win some Grand Slams.” The anticipation about her 2024 prospects builds as the offseason unfolds, with discussions even surfacing about Macci possibly joining Gauff’s coaching team to refine her game further.
Coco Gauff is predicted to win Grand Slam ahead of Iga Swiatek in 2024
A bold prediction from a tennis legend has emerged, placing Coco Gauff as the front-runner for Grand Slam glory in 2024, ahead of Iga Swiatek. This assertion comes from none other than Martina Navratilova, who believes that Coco Gauff will secure victory at the All-England Club in 2024.
Gauff, currently ranked world no. 3, clinched her first Grand Slam at the 2023 US Open by defeating Aryna Sabalenka in a thrilling final. Despite a less-than-ideal performance at Wimbledon earlier in the year, Navratilova sees the grass courts as a natural fit for Gauff’s game, making her a strong contender for next year’s Wimbledon title.
Emphasizing Gauff’s proficiency on grass, she claimed, “I would be surprised if she doesn’t win another Major [in 2024] …I think it’s on grass because she’s better at the net than any of them and moves forward so well.” She also highlighted Gauff’s improved drop shot, much like Carlos Alcaraz, who won Wimbledon this year.
The fact that the current world No. 1, Iga Swiatek, struggles on this surface strengthens Navratilova’s thinking. She further asserts, “For me, Coco should be the favorite on grass. Particularly since by her own admission, it’s Iga’s most challenging surface.” As fans eagerly await the unfolding of the 2024 season, the question remains: Can Gauff live up to Navratilova’s prediction?