Coach says Coco Gauff’s forehand is too ‘crafty’ to compare to Serena Williams
Coco Gauff has been told that despite being an “Olympic sprinter with a racket in her hand” she won’t emulate Serena Williams.
That’s the view of former Williams coach Rick March, who spoke on the Racing Point Canada podcast this week.
Gauff has been considered great since her breakthrough at Wimbledon in 2019 as a 15-year-old. She defeated Venus Williams in the first round and since then, everyone in the tennis world has been waiting for her to win a Grand Slam.
This year, she achieved that goal by winning the U.S. Open, further reinforcing the “new Serena Williams” hype. However, despite his genuine evaluation of her, Serena’s own former coach doesn’t think Goff is quite in the same league.
“Coco, the best female athlete on tour. She’s an Olympic sprinter with a racket in her hand,” March said. “The forehand is a little dodgy. I know she covers it up a little bit in the summer, but there’s a little bump there.
“As you know, when you’re confident, you don’t take it so seriously. But maybe, when you get people to change the peace, you’re not so confident. So, she’s not Serena, but she can win Some grand slams.”
Coco Gauff is already preparing for the 2024 season.
She is coming. 🇺🇸❤️ pic.twitter.com/rn9OiZH8Yd
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) November 16, 2023
Coco Gauff’s stunning summer breakout
Coco Gauff’s talent has never been in doubt, in fact many believe her reaching the 2022 French Open final will be her big break at the top of the WTA.
But that wasn’t to be, and she waited over a year before she really took her steps. That’s what happened to the American Hard Court Swing this year, shortly after joining forces with Andre Agassi’s former coach Brad Gilbert.
She won the WTA 500, her first WTA 1000 and her first Grand Slam title within a matter of weeks.
“Thank you to the people who didn’t believe in me,” Goff said after the win in New York. “A month ago I won the (WTA) 500 and people said I would stop there. Two weeks ago I won the Masters and people said it was the pinnacle.
“Three weeks later, I’m here with this (U.S. Open) trophy. For people who think they’re pouring water on my fire, they’re actually adding gas to the fire. Now I Burning so brightly.”
Serena Williams is a tough one to follow and a tough name to live up to, but there’s no doubt Gauff is now among the WTA elite and whether she can continue that form into 2024, will be one of the most intriguing subplots. this season.
Coco Gauff and her American hard court summer
Washington, D.C. (WTA 500)
Round 1 – Bye
Round 2 – defeated Hailey Baptiste (Q), 6-1 6-4
Quarterfinals – defeated Belinda Bencic (6), 6-1 6-2
Semifinals – defeated Lyudmila Samsonova (8), 6-3 6-3
Final – defeated Maria Sakkari (4), 6-2 6-3
Montreal(WTA 1000)
Round 1 – Bye
Round 2 – defeated Katie Boulter (Q), 6-2 6-2
Round 3 – defeated Marketa Vondrousova (9), 6-3 6-0
Quarterfinals – lost to Jessica Pegula (4), 2-6 7-5 5-7
Cincinnati(WTA 1000)
Round 1 – Bye
Round 2 – defeated Mayar Sherif, 6-2 6-2
Round 3 – beat Linda Noskova 6-4 6-0
Quarterfinals – defeated Jasmine Paolini, 6-3 6-2
Semifinals – defeated Iga Swiatek(1), 7-6(2) 3-6 6-4
Final – beat Karolina Muchova 6-3 6-4
US Open
Round 1 – defeated Laura Sigmund (Q), 3-6 6-2 6-4
Round 2 – defeated Mirra Andreeva, 6-3 6-2
Round 3 – defeated Elise Mertens (32), 3-6 6-3 6-0
Round 4 – beat Caroline Wozniacki (WC), 6-3 3-6 6-1
Quarterfinals – defeated Jelena Ostapenko (20), 6-0 6-2
Semifinals – defeated Karolina Muchova (10), 6-4 7-5
Final – defeated Aryna Sabalenka (2), 2-6 6-3 6-2
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