tennis Archives - Page 3 of 8

The 2023 season has come to an end and the 2024 season is just on the brink of arrival. This year saw the rise of some of the upcoming stars in tennis, stars, who took the tennis world by storm are all set to repeat their dominance in 2024. What makes the upcoming year special is the return of one of the legends of the game, Rafael Nadal. With the battle for supremacy set to take place between the veterans and young guns next year, it promises to be a year of expectations and action-packed madness.

Reflecting on the same, the former coach of Serena Williams, Patrick Mouratoglou came ahead and revealed his top 4 contenders who could shine at the slams next year. However, what surprised many was the fact that he wrote off the Spanish legend Rafael Nadal from his predictions.

In a recent revelation, Tennis coach Patrick Mouratoglou sees a fresh wave of contenders for the big titles in 2024. While he still believes Novak Djokovic remains a top favorite, he’s pointing at a new group challenging the old guard. However, Mouratoglou stuns everyone as he leaves Rafael Nadal and instead takes the spotlight on Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, and Holger Rune. These young players, according to him, have what it takes to grab the Grand Slam titles next year.

It’s a different take from the usual predictions, as he seems to have shifted toward younger talents who have sent shockwaves in the tennis world. Mouratoglou’s confidence in these rising stars is clear. He sees Djokovic as the only established player in the mix, with Alcaraz, Sinner, and Rune ready to challenge the status quo.

“For sure. I see four guys that are really contending. The first one for sure is Novak, but the three others [Alcaraz, Sinner, Rune] they are definitely potential Grand Slams winners next year,” said Patrick Mouratoglou as he left behind Rafael Nadal in his prediction.

With the arrival of the 2024 season, everyone would be excited to see the clash of the young vs the old generation in tennis. With the likes of Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic battling it out for supremacy, young guns like Sinner and Rune will give everything in their power to put the veterans down.

Going further ahead in the interview, Mouratgolou also talked about the difference that separates the young generation of players from the Serbian legend Novak Djokovic.

Mouratoglou talks about the major difference that separates Novak Djokovic from young guns

While talking g about how the young generation could dominate in the next year, he also talked about how the young guns differ from the Serbian sensation. While suggesting that all the players are close in level terms with the Djoker, what separates him from the rest is the mentality that the world number 1 carries with him.

“So the level is really good. The level of tennis is very close to his. Now what makes the difference is still his ability to compete and his mental strength, that puts him still in a way, way above,” said Mouratoglou.

Thus, ahead of the start of the new season, Patrick Mouratoglou sees a ready of hope from the youngsters who are all set to make an impact on the sport. However, with Rafael Nadal making a comeback to the sport, Mouratoglou doesn’t seem to consider him a title threat next year.

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“Rafael Nadal Was Playing at a Very High Level”: Roger Federer’s Former Coach Reveals Great News in Spaniard’s Comeback

Rafael Nadal recently concluded his visit to the Rafa Nadal Academy in Kuwait for practising ahead of the Australian summer of 2024. The Spaniard thrilled visitors there as well as tennis fans on social media with some clips from his practice sessions, including some with NextGen youngster, Arthur Fils from France. Fils has reportedly told Roger Federer’s former coach, Ivan Ljubicic that Nadal’s level of tennis and fitness, both are extremely high at the moment.

This turns out to some very good news for fans of Rafael Nadal, many of whom while being excited, are worried as to how the 22-time Grand Slam champion will keep up with the rigors of the game. Nadal earlier announced on social media that he could not give a timeline of how long would his farewell season in 2024 last, since he isn’t certain about his fitness. But another training video of the Spaniard has gone viral on social media, in which he looks in extremely good touch, flow and with top stamina, which echoes Fils’ sentiments.

Rafael Nadal is expected to mark his tennis comeback at the Brisbane International 2024, which will also be headlined by Holger Rune as well as former champions Andy Murray and Grigor Dimitrov amongst others. Nadal will participate at the Australian Open 2024 using his protected ranking of No.9 rather than being a wildcard or playing qualifying matches. But even then, the 2-time champion in Melbourne is expected to have a higher ranked opponent in either of his first 2-3 rounds since technically, he is the 102nd player to make it in the 128-player draw.

A section of fans are speculating that the Australian Open 2024 organisers, led by Craig Tiley, might give Rafael Nadal an easier outing in the first 3 rounds at least since he is arguably the biggest name in the tournament to play alongside Novak Djokovic. Regardless, Rafael Nadal will look for a super start to the 2024 season Down Under and then perhaps, move to play in the Netflix Slam match in Las Vegas.

Rafael Nadal to create history by playing in Netflix’s first-ever tennis match

It is likely that going ahead, Rafael Nadal could continue playing tennis but in the form of one-off exhibition matches. It is no secret that Nadal likes to travel the world to promote tennis and meet his fans everywhere by playing in such entertaining contests. The 37-year-old will take on his potential successor from Spain, Carlos Alcaraz in a ‘Netflix Slam’ match on March 3, 2024.

The match was supposed to take place this year but was called off as both players were unavailable due to injuries. It is set to be Netflix’s first-ever foray into live tennis broadcasting, marking a huge step in the OTT giant’s evolution. It is also expected that ticket sales in Vegas will cross $1 million in the anticipation to see Nadal, although many hope not for the last time especially in the United States.

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“If Rafael Nadal feels good physically, he will always be dangerous” – Serena Williams’ ex-coach on fitness concerns surrounding Spaniard’s comeback

Serena Williams’ former coach Patrick Mouratoglou has shared his thoughts on the fitness concerns surrounding Rafael Nadal’s impending comeback to the tour after nearly a year away.

Nadal has been diligently preparing for his long-awaited return after being sidelined for almost the entire 2023 season. The Spaniard has been away from action since sustaining a hip injury at the Australian Open, for which he underwent surgery.

The 22-time Grand Slam champion is set to make his highly anticipated comeback at the ATP 250 Brisbane International, commencing on Dec. 31. His return has garnered considerable excitement and interest in the tennis community, drawing comments and opinions from players, coaches and journalists alike.

In a recent interview with Eurosport, Patrick Mouratoglou also weighed in on Rafael Nadal’s comeback, addressing the concerns about the 37-year-old’s fitness upon his return. Nonetheless, Mouratoglou contended that if the Spaniard is in good physical shape, he would be a “dangerous” opponent to face.

“The fact that he was out for so long makes people feel that probably his body is not great, considering his age and the fact that again he had to stop for so long. But if he feels good physically, he will always be dangerous,” he said.

The Frenchman also expressed his anticipation for Nadal to face the younger generation of players, who has developed in leaps and bounds in his absence.

“It’s going to be interesting because now the young guys have progressed a lot while he was out of the courts. So I’m really looking forward to seeing those young guys play against him and see how we can do against them with such a long absence also,” he added.

In the same interview, Patrick Mouratoglou also highlighted the challenge of making an accurate prediction about Rafael Nadal’s 2024 season, due to the significant impact the 22-time Grand Slam champion’s fitness would have on his performance.

“The thing that is difficult with him is that we don’t know how he feels in his body, only he knows. And this will play a big part in what he will be able to achieve in 2024,” he said.

Mouratoglou also offered two possible explanations for the Spaniard’s decision to take part in the 2024 Australian Open, with the first being that the 37-year-old’s belief that 2024 would be his last year on tour.

“The fact that he wants to play the Australian Open, there are two explanations. The first one is maybe he thinks it’s his last year, and he wants to play,” he said.The Frenchman’s second explanation is that Nadal feels physically fit enough to compete at the Melbourne Slam. Mouratoglou suggested that otherwise the Spaniard would likely have skipped ahead to the clay season, as the French Open remains his “best chance” to win another Grand Slam.

“The second can be if he feels good, because if he wouldn’t feel that good, he would probably go skip it and go straight to clay, probably in South America and get ready for Roland-Garros, which will be for sure the most important tournament of his season, because that’s the Grand Slam he has the best chance to win,” he added.

Before the claycourt season in 2024, Rafael Nadal will square off against Carlos Alcaraz in a blockbuster exhibition match. The event, titled the Netflix Slam, takes place on Mar. 3, and will be streamed live from the Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas.

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RAFAEL NADAL WAS ‘AMAZED’ TO EVEN WIN ONE GRAND SLA – ALIZE LIM AFTER TALKING TO SPANISH STAR

Rafael Nadal never believed he would be a Grand Slam champion and was “amazed” at each of his 22 major victories, the Spaniard has told Eurosport’s Alize Lim. Nadal expects 2024 to be his final year on the ATP Tour before retirement. Nadal sits second to Novak Djokovic’s record tally of 24 Slam titles. He is set to return at the Brisbane International in January ahead of the Australian Open.

Rafael Nadal never believed he would be a Grand Slam champion and was “amazed” at each of his 22 major victories, the Spaniard has told Eurosport’s Alize Lim.

Nadal expects 2024 to be his final year on the ATP Tour before retirement, capping an incredible career that has been him rival Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer to be considered the greatest male player of all-time.

However, the man from Mallorca was not always destined for greatness as he revealed one of the secrets to his success was a laser focus on the next job at hand.

“When I was a kid, I never said to myself ‘I want to win a Grand Slam, I want to win Grand Slams, I want to be the best’. I was thinking about the tournament of the next week,” Nadal told Lim during a meeting in Vienna.

“And when I won my first Grand Slam, I thought it was going to be the only one I’d win. And then, every time, I won a Grand Slam. I was amazed, I thought, now I can really relax. It’ll probably be my last one. Now I’ve achieved something and that’s already huge.”

The 37-year-old has not played in nearly a year since the 2022 Australian Open and underwent hip surgery in June.

Nadal has tried to play down expectations of what he can achieve before bringing down the curtain on his career, with his comeback .

Lim, though, believes Nadal will have high hopes of adding to his 22 Grand Slams and closing the gap on Djokovic’s record tally of 24.

“He’s someone who lives in the moment, in the here and now, and that’s his strength. I think he must have ambitions deep down on his return,” said Lim, a former pro on the WTA Tour.

“I get the impression that it’s not him now who’s talking like that…he’s shown me in the discussion, and that’s what I deeply felt, that in fact that’s what the Rafa mentality was all along, that’s how Rafa worked.”

Where are Nadal, Djokovic, Murray, Swiatek, Sabalenka, Raducanu starting 2024?
‘Djokovic enjoying Alcaraz fight in different way to Federer, Nadal battles’ – Wilander
‘Very difficult to separate Big Three’ – GOAT talk on Djokovic, Federer and Nadal

The former world number one has plummeted to 668 in the rankings during his injury lay-off but is eligible for a protected ranking as he has not competed in any event for at least six months.

“There are many possibilities, that it is my last year, and I am going to enjoy the tournaments in that way,” Nadal said earlier this month, but he does not want to put a definite timeline on retirement until he knows how his body reacts to the rigours of being back on Tour.

“I do not want to announce it because in the end I do not know what can happen and I have to give myself the opportunity not to say one thing and then I can be a slave of what I have said.

“I think it is going to be like that but I can’t be 100% sure to come back to compete and if suddenly things and my physique allows me to continue and I enjoy what I do why am I going to set a deadline? I think it makes no sense.”

Should Nadal step away in 2024 he will become the second member of the sports “Big Three” to do so after Federer retired in 2022.

Djokovic’s stellar 2023, winning three Slams, has moved the Serbian two clear of Nadal in the battle for the most male singles Grand Slams in history.

But Djokovic is hoping to be reacquainted with his long-time rival for at least one more time.

The pair have faced off a record 59 times, with Djokovic edging the head-to-head 30-29.

“Would be nice for the sport to have at least one more match between Nadal and me,” Djokovic said at the ATP Tour finals.

“That’s the biggest rivalry – in terms of matches played – that this sport ever had so hopefully that can happen. He’s a big warrior, somebody who never gives up and with all the injuries he’s had, keeps going.”

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After Rumored Collaboration with Coco Gauff, Serena Williams’ Childhood Coach Reveals the Youngster’s Biggest Negative (EXCLUSIVE)

2023 was by far the best year on the WTA Tour for American sensation Coco Gauff. At just 19, she not only managed to lay her hands on the US Open title but also stunned everyone with her incredible gameplay. Despite getting up the ranks and making a bold announcement in tennis, Serena Williams‘ childhood coach seems to have identified a problem that is stopping her from achieving her true potential.

In an exclusive interview, Rick Macci came ahead and talked about the key challenge that Coco Gauff is facing while suggesting some ways that he would use to improve it. This news comes after there are potential rumors of a possible partnership between the two.

Rick Macci points out Coco Gauff’s key challenge post-rumored collaboration

Months after speculation going around their partnership, Rick Macci, in an exclusive ES Fancast interview, highlighted a crucial hurdle in Coco Gauff’s game. Macci talked about Gauff’s physicality, noting her longer arms and wiry athleticism can complicate the mechanics of her natural game. He described the challenges of coordinating various moving parts due to her exceptional athleticism, which is advantageous but poses complexities in biomechanics.

He further went ahead to add that Coco might sometimes struggle to stay balanced and connected while playing because of her athleticism. Even though she’s quick to recover from mistakes, he hinted that players who aren’t as fast might face fewer issues.

“Remember her arms are a little longer. She’s a great athlete, she’s wiry you know so there it’s a complicated thing because you’re so athletic and there are a lot of moving parts you know so that happens. She’s not biomechanically connected from the ground up but when you’re confident you move forward a little bit you know uh even if she hits a bad shot she has enough makeup speed that she can save the day,” said Macci in the interview.

However, he went ahead to add some major problems that the players today come up with, the problem of not wanting to undergo a change. While suggesting that it is important to find the right person to work with, he said that there are players who are winning tournaments or matches so they think that there is no need to bring the change. He further went ahead to add that in Gauff’s case, it is a little wobble.

“They’ve done stuff since age six you know and maybe the mechanics aren’t uh where they could be and a lot of people don’t want to change because they’ve done it for so long and like you said if you’re having some success and you’re making a great living or you win the tournament or whatever um you don’t really want to change things but in her situation, there is a little wobble there okay,” said Macci while highlighting the main issue that Gauff is currently dealing with.

Thus, in the latest interview, Rick Macci came ahead and suggested one main problem that Coco Gauff is currently dealing with. While the rumors of their potential partnership gain fire, it will be interesting to see if they both join hands together or not.

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Coco Gauff Receives Pleasant ‘Surprise’ in the Form of a Proud Hometown Honor for Its Christmas Parade

The festive season is on and tennis players from across the world have been making sure to enjoy it to the fullest before getting ready for the upcoming season. One of the stars who has made the best use of the time here is Coco Gauff. The 19-year-old American sensation, who stunned everyone with her title glory at the US Open seems to enjoy her vacation.

From Karaoke nights to concerts, there hasn’t been anything that she hasn’t laid her hands on, and now, in an interesting revelation, she takes the role of the grand marshal. Through the stories shared on her Instagram, she reflects on how she will be leading the Christmas parade this year in her hometown as she gets honored after a remarkable season.

Coco Gauff becomes the Grand Marshal for the Christmas parade

Tennis sensation Coco Gauff, in a recent revelation, announced her role as the Grand Marshal in the upcoming Delray Beach Christmas Parade via Instagram, stunning her followers with the exciting news. While posting a photo on her story, she sent surprise news to her fans, who have always seen her shut people down on the tennis courts.

This is a special deal for Coco because she’s a big name in the tennis world, and now she gets to show love for her hometown by leading this parade. Her Instagram story showed how excited she is to represent Delray Beach. “Surprise! Grand Marshal of the delray beach christmas parade,” wrote Gauff in her story while surprising her fans.

It’s a very cool moment for Coco. She loves where she’s from, and this role as Grand Marshal lets her be a part of the town’s celebrations in a big way. With Coco in charge, the parade is sure to be fun and full of her lively spirit. People in Delray Beach are already looking forward to this awesome Christmas parade led by their very own Coco Gauff!

However, in other stories that she posted, she reposted the stories of her fans who were in numbers and got a chance to be a part of the Christmas Parade.

Gauff reshares Instagram stories of her fans as they join the parade

In another revelation, Coco Gauff, who earlier announced to be the grand marshal and lead the way for the parade took to her Instagram to share some stories of her fans who were present in the parade and got a chance to witness the 19-year-old American sensation.

Donning the parade with a pink top and light blue jeans, Gauff thanked all her fans who came in numbers to share their support for the US Open champion. Thus, a local sensation, Gauff got the chance to connect with everyone as she joined the parade at Christmas in her hometown. With the festive season on, she looks to spend some great time with her family and ready herself for what’s coming next.

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Coco Gauff leads Delray Beach Christmas parade as Grand Marshal

Coco Gauff recently led the Delray Beach Holiday Parade as the Grand Marshal on Saturday, December 9.

Gauff was the star attraction of the parade, which featured more than 70 floats, marching bands, walking groups, and dance teams along Atlantic Avenue in Downtown Delray Beach. Her participation in the parade was a special moment for her and her hometown.

The American moved to Delray Beach at the age of seven where she practiced at Pompey Park tennis grounds, where she honed her skills and developed her passion for the sport.

Gauff posted a picture in which she expressed her excitement about leading the parade on her Instagram account on Sunday, December 10.

“Surprise! grand marshal of the Delray Beach Christmas parade 💗,” Gauff wrote.Gauff also shared a clip of her waving to the crowd from the back of a Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG 6×6.

Gauff’s appearance in the parade came after a remarkable season on the WTA tour, where she won four singles titles, including her maiden Grand Slam at the US Open. She also reached the semifinals of the WTA Finals in Cancun, Mexico, where she lost to compatriot Jessica Pegula in straight sets.

Gauff finished the year with a ranking of World No. 3 in singles and doubles.

Coco Gauff becomes the highest-paid female athlete of 2023

Coco Gauff recently became the highest-paid female athlete of 2023, ending a two-decade-long reign dominated by Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, and Naomi Osaka.

For two decades, one of these three tennis superstars held the top spot on Sportico’s annual list, which considers both on-court and off-court earnings. However, with Williams and Sharapova retired and Osaka absent due to pregnancy in 2023, the door opened for a new candidate.

Gauff seized the opportunity, earning nearly $23 million through endorsements and prize money, leaving World No. 1 Iga Swiatek in second place with earnings of $21.9 million. Gauff has attracted lucrative deals from brands such as New Balance, Barilla, Head, and Rolex, among others.

Seven of the Top 10 highest-paid female athletes in 2023 were tennis players, showcasing the sport’s dominance in terms of earnings. Gauff (No. 1), Swiatek (No. 2), Emma Raducanu (No. 4), Aryna Sabalenka (No. 6), Elena Rybakina (No. 7), and Jessica Pegula (No. 8) all earned substantial incomes through prize money and endorsements.

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ASB CLASSIC TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR CONFIRMS WHY EMMA RADUCANU IS RETURNING DESPITE HARSH WORDS AND INJURY IN 2023 EDITION

To the shock of many, Emma Raducanu’s comeback will come at a tournament which saw her injury woes begin in 2023 at the ASB Classic. The former US Open champion will play the 2024 edition in Auckland.

Raducanu was left seething at the slippery courts and blamed the organisers for her injury. The tournament was affected by bad weather throughout which contributed to it, but the fact of her return to a tournament that she publicly slated still remains.

The comeback trail 💪

Emma Raducanu and Amanda Anisimova are set to make their comebacks in Auckland at the ASB Classic, beginning on January 1st. #ASBClassic pic.twitter.com/xyd1aDVJYj

— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) December 7, 2023

But it is a return that has now been explained by tournament director, Nicolas Lamperin. Albeit this move has been perhaps on the cards for a while with Lamperin saying in an interview earlier this year about the potential for Raducanu to play in Auckland especially given that the main star names returning to the sport are playing United Cup or Brisbane.

“We kept in touch with Emma throughout the year. She decided to go for surgery in April, after Stuttgart and it was going to be a long process for her. When we touched base in early July, we didn’t have much of an update, because it was still in the early stage,” said Lamperin.

“But we kept the dialogue going and said we know how it works, players who’ve been away from the Tour get a protected ranking. However, the number of tournaments they can do with their protected ranking is limited, so whenever they can get wildcards on top of their protected ranking it gives them longer to get back on the Tour.”

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Coco Gauff goalposts move as American star no longer ‘the baby’ in rival eyes

By Trust November 22, 2023

Success at this year’s US Open has realigned the expectations placed on Coco Gauff.

Coco Gauff had a plan before the start of the 2023 season. Stop being a teenage prodigy and start being a grand slam champion. The first tag was easy to obtain for the American world No. 3 who first came into the public consciousness after rocking up at Wimbledon at the tender age of 15 in 2019, only to promptly dumped the five-time winner Venus Williams out of the All England Club competition in the first round. Some introduction.

She would go on to reach the last 16 that year, cementating her name in SW19 folklore ahead of what promises to be a developing story.

Such is the talent at Gauff’s disposal, it was only a matter of when as opposed to if she would eventually become a grand slam champion. She would fall at the final hurdle at Roland Garros in 2022, losing the French Open final to Iga Swiatek in straight sets.

Her Grand Slam form this year, which included a fourth-round exit at the Australian Open, a quarterfinal run at the French Open and a wimpish first-round defeat at Wimbledon, did not particularly suggest that silverware would be on the cards at Flushing Meadows, but good form during the US hardcourt season set the teenager up for the biggest win of her life in New York last month.

She wrote: “Starting another season as an established pro feels pretty weird. I’m still only 18 but I don’t feel like the new kid any more. I feel I’m ready to leave behind the tag of ‘teenage phenomenon’. Now it is time to be known as a Grand Slam champion.

“I feel like all the players still call me a baby, and usually I’m still one of the youngest in the draw, but I’ve been around for a while. My main ambition for 2023 is winning a Grand Slam title. That’s the biggest goal.”

Fast forward 11 months and that goal has been realised thanks to a come-from-behind victory against Aryna Sabalenka at the US Open.

Mission accomplished. The challenge now for Gauff is maintaining it.

With one major trophy now on the mantlepiece, the expectation – as it has been from the start – is that Gauff will now go on to dominate women’s tennis. But there are a few other women around who will have plenty to say about that.

The American followed up her US Open exploits by reaching the China Open semi-final, but she was put to the sword by Swiatek, who cruised to a 6-2, 6-3 victory.

It was a similar tale in Cancun at the WTA Finals, where Gauff once more reached the final four, but this time it was her compatriot and doubles playing partner Jessica Pegula who inflicted the defeat. Gauff had replaced Pegula as world No. 3 with her triumph in New York, but here was the Buffelo-born star reminding her fellow American that she will not be getting everything her own way now just because she is a grand slam winner.

Gauff’s reality check draws a parallel with Carlos Alcaraz, who was tipped for domination in the men’s game after defeating Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon final, but has found the going to be pretty tough since.

But if anyone has the mental fortitude to keep herself at the top it is surely Gauff, who revealed her ambition to become the world’s greatest tennis player on TV when she was just 12 years old. If repeating Grand Slam success and building upon it is the target, she will have to beat the best players on the planet to do it.

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“Coco Gauff is not Serena Williams, but she can win some Grand Slams” – Williams’ ex-coach Rick Macci

By Trust November 22, 2023

Serena Williams’ former coach Rick Macci recently gave his verdict on Coco Gauff, following her noteworthy 2023 campaign.

Gauff set the bar for her 2023 season in the opening week itself by clinching her career’s third title at the ASB Classic. The American, however, failed to capitalize on her momentum.

She did not have a significant impact on the tour in the months that followed and reached a low point when she lost her Wimbledon opener to compatriot Sofia Kenin.

At the time, several critics attributed her string of disappointing results to her faulty forehand.

Coco Gauff scripted a remarkable comeback, however, following the Wimbledon defeat, winning 22 of her next 24 matches. During this period, she clinched titles at the Citi Open, the Cincinnati Open and the US Open.

Serena Williams’ childhood coach Rick Macci shared his thoughts on Gauff’s impressive turnaround. He opined that the World No. 3 successfully masked her forehand woes by showing confidence on the court. Macci also called the American ‘the best female athlete’ on tour.

“Coco, the best female athlete on the tour. She’s an Olympic sprinter with a racquet in her hand,” Serena Williams’ ex-coach said on the Match Point Canada podcast.

“The forehand’s a little dodgy. I know she kinda covered it up during the summer, but there’s a little bump there. But when you are confident, as you know, you don’t see it as much. But maybe, when you have the people change the pace, you’re not as confident,” he explained.

Rick Macci further remarked that Coco Gauff isn’t Serena Williams, who was known for her all-around power on the court. But, he asserted that the reigning US Open champion is bound to succeed at Grand Slams in the future as well.

“So, she’s not Serena, but she can win some Grand Slams,” Macci said on the podcast.

“I would be surprised if Coco Gauff doesn’t win another Major” – Martina Navratilova

In tune with Serena Williams’ ex-coach Rick Macci’s claim, Martina Navratilova, too, recently backed Coco Gauff to pick up her second Grand Slam during the 2024 season.

The tennis legend, who clinched half of her 18 Major titles at Wimbledon, opined that the fellow American, too, was headed for glory at SW19.

“I would be surprised if she doesn’t win another Major this year [in 2024], and Wimbledon makes the most sense,” Navratilova said in an interview with the WTA.Navratilova explained that Gauff’s prowess at the net made her a promising candidate for the title.

“I think it’s on grass because she’s better at the net than any of them and moves forward so well. That and her improved drop shot,” Navratilova added.

Coco Gauff made her Grand Slam main draw debut at the 2019 Wimbledon Championships. She stunned the tennis world when she defeated five-time champion Venus Williams in the opening round.

Aged just 15 at the time, Gauff reached the fourth round of the tournament. But, she crashed out with a loss to eventual champion Simona Halep.

The American repeated the feat in the 2021 edition as well. Her previous two campaigns, in 2022 and 2023, however, ended in defeats in the third and the first rounds, respectively.