Coco Gauff ‘strolling in footsteps’ of Serena Williams as daring prediction made

Coco Gauff will change into the world No. 1 and win a number of Grand Slam titles after getting off the mark on the US Open. That’s in line with former Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli, who has hailed the 19-year-old American as Serena Williams’ pure successor.

Gauff was a overwhelmed finalist within the French Open final 12 months after she misplaced in three units to Iga Swiatek, however she made amends at Flushing Meadows in September, coming from behind to defeat new world No. 1 Arnya Sabalenka 2-6, 6-3, 6-2.

In doing so, she turned the primary American teenager to win the US Open since Williams in 1999 and Bartoli is in completely little question that the baton of dominance in girls’s tennis is about to be handed from the 23-time Grand Slam champion to Gauff.

Speaking about Guaff on the newest version of tennis podcast Match Points, Bartoli mentioned: “Multiple Grand Slam winner and number one in the world, absolutely without a doubt. She’s so driven and she wants that so much.

“I think there’s just a fairytale story. It looks so much like walking in the footsteps of Serena – of course, it’s a big gap between winning one and winning 23, but I just think she has a complete package. She thinks like a 30-year-old even though she’s 19. The physicality and the fitness are just incredible.”

Gauff put the frustration of being knocked out of Wimbledon within the first spherical behind her by profitable the Cincinnati Open earlier than following that success up together with her maiden slam triumph in New York.

Back-to-back titles have moved {the teenager} as much as quantity three on this planet rankings, changing her common doubles accomplice Jessica Pegula.

With the progress Gauff has made in 2023, she is now dwelling as much as the hype that surrounded her as a 15-year-old when she sensationally beat five-time Wimbledon champion Venus Williams within the first spherical on the All England membership.

And now that her first Grand Slam title is on the mantlepiece, French tennis author Carole Bouchard agrees with Bartoli that there will probably be no going again for the American from hereon in.

Bouchard mentioned: “It’s been a long time coming, but once it’s done for a player at this level, I don’t see it going away. I think she’s going to enjoy it. I have a feeling like she’s going to enjoy the battle. So I mean they sky’s the limit for her.”

Gauff faces Ekaterina Alexandrova within the first spherical of the China Open on Saturday.