Posted by Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Wednesday January 8, 2025
Coco Gauff has been a major influence on the tour since tennis debuted in Asia last year in Beijing, and several WTA legends believe the best is yet to come. In a preview of the WTA website, Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova sang the Florida native’s praises.
Evert was clearly inspired by Gauff’s recent battle against World No.2 Iga Swiatek, a 6-4, 6-4 victory for Gauff in the United Cup final.
“When I was watching Iga play Coco, and Coco was winning early rallies,” Evert said, according to the WTA Tour. “In that game, whoever is ahead will win the game. He is No.3 right now. It’s not that far. I think he will get there.”
Martina Navratilova also believes big things await Gauff, currently ranked No.3, nearly 3000 points behind top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka. Evert’s biggest rival and fellow 18-time major champion believes Gauff will take home the Slam title in 2025.
“I think Coco will win the points. Australia would be his best chance. But he can win on any surface — clay, grass, hard, it doesn’t matter.
The 20-year-old Gauff won the US Open in 2023. He has won 18 of his last 20 matches since his title debut in Beijing.
