"A superstar on and off the court " - James Blake on Coco Gauff
ATP
Former ATP player James Blake believes Coco Gauff can have a Hall-of-Fame career after seeing her at the 2023 Australian Open.
Gauff is one of the biggest talents that emerged on the WTA Tour in recent years. She has shown her potential already at the 2019 Wimbledon Championships when she bested Venus Williams in the first round of the grass-court major.
In 2023, the teenager started her season with eight consecutive wins, winning the 2023 ASB Classic in Auckland and then starting victoriously also at the first major tournament of the season.
In the first three matches in Melbourne, Gauff bested Katerina Siniakova, Emma Raducanu, and Bernarda Pera. After eight matches played, the American was on an eight-match winning streak and a 16-sets winning streak.
However, then, she took on Jelena Ostapenko, who bested her in straight sets. Despite this loss, former player James Blake called Gauff a superstar in a post on social media.
"Always love Coco Gauff. She is a superstar on and off the court. Can't wait to continue watching her progress and establish herself at the top of the game for years. I have the highest of hopes for her. Can’t wait to sit back and enjoy her Hall-of-Fame career."
Blake predicted Gauff to have a "Hall-of-Fame career," and he isn't the only one who thinks that the young American will be successful. Plenty of pundits, coaches, former, and even active players praised Gauff, as being so good so young is something that isn't seen so often.
Despite losing in the fourth round of the 2023 Australian Open, the youngster will have many more tries to become a Grand Slam champion in her career. Up next, she will shift her focus to the upcoming tournaments.
An important part of the season for her will certainly be the Sunshine Double on home soil. The Sunshine Double is a swing of two WTA 1000 tournaments, the Indian Wells Open and the Miami Open.
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