Coco Gauff ‘walking in footsteps’ of Serena Williams as bold prediction made

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Coco Gauff will become the world No. 1 and win multiple Grand Slam titles after getting off the mark at the US Open. That’s according to former Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli, who has hailed the 19-year-old American as Serena Williams’ natural successor.

Gauff was a beaten finalist in the French Open last year after she lost in three sets to Iga Swiatek, but 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 became the first American teenager to win the US Open since Williams in 1999 and Bartoli is in absolutely no doubt that the baton of dominance in women’s tennis is about to be passed from the 23-time Grand Slam champion to Gauff.

Speaking about Guaff on the latest edition of tennis podcast Match Points, Bartoli said: “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 disappointment of being knocked out of Wimbledon in the first round behind her by winning the Cincinnati Open before following that success up with her maiden slam triumph in New York.

Back-to-back titles have moved the teenager up to number three in the world rankings, replacing her regular doubles partner Jessica Pegula.

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With the progress Gauff has made in 2023, she is now living up to the hype that surrounded her as a 15-year-old when she sensationally beat five-time Wimbledon champion Venus Williams in the first round at the All England club.

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

Bouchard said: “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 in the first round of the China Open on Saturday.

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