American tennis desperately needs the next big thing after Serena — and it looks like Coco Gauff

She worked to save American tennis. She was volunteered by others to do so, though the arc and trajectory of her young career left her with a hand up to her own accomplishments and seemed up to the task.

Coco Gauff was still a teenager when she turned 20 earlier this month. She’s just getting started.

The prodigy wore bright chartreuse on Sunday as she won her third round match at the Miami Open, her hometown tournament 40 miles south of Delray Beach, where she was born and raised. Gauff, who now lives in Miami, beat France’s Oceane Dodin 6-4, 6-0 on the main court inside Hard Rock Stadium, which has been away from Key Biscayne since 2019 It has been the home venue of this event since.

She trailed in the first set, took complete control of the second, and never seemed in danger of not advancing to the round of 16 with her family watching. After trailing 4-2 in the early set, Gauff won 10 consecutive games (with the help of Dodin’s 9 double faults) to end the game. Gauff will next face Caroline Garcia on Monday, who defeated Naomi Osaka in straight sets on Sunday.

Hard Rock Stadium doesn’t have the same tropical scenery and atmosphere as the championship venue. It’s a temporary facility built on top of the stadium where the Dolphins and Hurricanes play football. Still, the WTA/ATP event remains a major annual event in South Florida sports and ranks second in tennis behind the four Grand Slam tournaments.

Her first Miami Open trophy was on her mind.

“It’s really cool to win at home,” she said. “I think the best thing about winning here is being able to drive home with a trophy and not have to get on a plane and pack your bags. I’m a Dolphins fan, so if I win here, maybe they can win another one in the Super Bowl Trophy.”

But the four Grand Slams are the yardstick by which greatness is judged in tennis, just as it is in golf, and Gauff has left his mark on that front. Reaching the 2022 French Open final caught our attention. Her US Open title in 2023 was the breakthrough that caught everyone’s attention. She reached the semifinals of the ’24 Australian Open in January.

Others also noticed its potential as a rising star about to blossom into full bloom.

She and Chris Evert have become texting friends.

“Even Roger (Federer) sends me messages sometimes,” she said after Sunday’s win.

The American tennis world is looking for a successor to fill the huge void left by retirement. serena williamsThe 42-year-old superstar won the last of his 23 Grand Slam singles titles in 2017.

It’s probably unfair to expect anyone to be the “next Serena.” U.S. Tennis will select an American-born star to prove he has the ability to dominate the world and become a consistent challenger at the Grand Slams.

I don’t mean to delve into chauvinism when talking about American tennis, but I do so without apology. When you’re a tennis fan and (mediocre) player during the primes of John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors and Chris Evert – because They – you’re going to be spoiled.

U.S. men’s tennis in particular has lost its next star. The glory days of Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi and even Andy Roddick are long gone. No American man has won a major since Roddick lifted the U.S. Open trophy in 2003. Tyler Fritz is currently the highest-ranked American man at No. 13 but was defeated in the second round of the Miami Open. Maybe No. 17 Ben Shelton (who won his second-round match on Sunday) has a chance, but there’s no current American player who’s been unanimously recognized as the “next big thing.”

The U.S. women’s soccer team performed better, led by Gauff and ranked third in the world. She is different.

Jessica Pegula was fifth and won on Sunday, but the 30-year-old has never even reached a major final. Madison Keys is ranked No. 18 but is still looking for her first shot at age 29. Emma Navarro, ranked 20th, also won on Sunday but has yet to do what Gauff has done and is two years older. Sloane Stephens, who won the U.S. Open in 2017 but has never won a title since, is currently ranked 31st and 41st on the list. . Russian-born, American-raised Sofia Kenin won the 2020 Australian Open, but the 25-year-old has not come close since and is currently ranked 58th.

Now it’s Goff.

In fact, a generation of players were raised by Serena Williams, girls who idolized her and picked up racquets because of her.

One of them is this little girl from Delray Beach who just turned 20 and is already a big winner…and she’s just getting started.