Boris Becker spoke to Eurosport about Coco Gauff and her sudden rise, proclaiming her the next superstar on the WTA Tour.
Coco Gauff was always a fan favourite and a player who is perfectly marketable as the next big thing in tennis. She basically was that when she emerged as a 15-year-old, but it took her a few years to get to the next level.
A consistent performer, Gauff found herself playing in her maiden Grand Slam final last year with a couple of notable trophies this year. The biggest one came recently at the Cincinnati Masters when she finally defeated Iga Swiatek and also Karolina Muchova in the final. Speaking about that, Becker noted her 'arrival'.
It's always difficult when you're 15 years old and already being touted as the next superstar of the tennis scene by us experts. That doesn't make life any easier for a 15-year-old. That means the pressure increases, the expectations rise, and you also lose a bit of patience. Now I finally have to win something big. No, it was the final in Paris, but the big breakthrough didn't happen.
The upcoming US Open could be decisive for Gauff, as many expect a good run. She had one last year but then ran into Caroline Garcia, who bested her to end the dream. She's looking far more confident in her abilities this year, and according to Becker, she's blossoming into a superstar.
In this respect, I call this a breakthrough, it can be compared to [Jannik] Sinner, and now she is also in the tight circle of the absolute top favourites for the US Open, and that is nice for the scene. She is a great personality with a lot of charisma. She comes from America, which is the promised land of tennis with the most big tournaments. The women's scene needs a superstar, and I'll say Coco Gauff is one.
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