Coco Gauff is one of the best players in the world at 19, and Martina Navratilova has nothing but words of praise for her.
The teenager might be 19 years old, but she's also an experienced veteran because she's been playing on the WTA Tour since she was 15. Last year, she won her maiden Grand Slam at the US Open, and she's hoping to win another one at the 2024 Australian Open.
Starting the year with a triumph in Auckland was a great way to further signal her intent to take over the Tour. It might happen, and it might not happen, but what she's done so far in her career has been tremendously impressive for former WTA world no. 1, Martina Navratilova.
Speaking to the Tennis Channel, Navratilova commented on Gauff and praised her for her maturity because she remembers herself at 19, and she wasn't as mature as Gauff is at that age.
"I really like how she's just taking it one match at a time. It's an old cliche but it's the only way you can get there. And so, I know she's not looking ahead because you can see it in the way she's acting on the court, the way she's playing or she's focused. She's just thinking about the next point, nothing else."
Melbourne has been good for Gauff so far, as she's in the quarter-final and will take on Marta Kostyuk for a spot in the semi-final. She's heavily favored to get it done, and it may be the experience that pushes her over the line.
"And that's just massive for somebody that young. I know I certainly wasn't that mature at 19, so kudos to her and her team. I mean, she's a good listener but still to be able to do it with your head and control it that well, amazing."
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