It's important for women's tennis to have another significant figure such as Serena Williams and soon, Coco Gauff may become one.
After the 23-time Grand Slam champion retired, a discussion about who 'moves the needle in women's tennis' started. While it's obvious that likes of Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic are leaders on the ATP Tour, situation with their colleagues from WTA Tour is a bit more complicated.
Iga Swiatek is currently world no. 1 in the WTA Rankings and for some time there won't be anyone challenging her. However, according to Patrick McEnroe she isn't figure such as Naomi Osaka or as Coco Gauff may become if she succeeds in the future.
The 18-years-old American already played her first Grand Slam singles final this year and she may be a very important person on the WTA Tour in years to come as Patrick McEnroe suggested.
"Right now, there's nobody that really moves the needle in women's tennis," Patrick McEnroe said. "Coco Gauff can and will, when and if she becomes a multiple Slam champion."
"Iga Swiatek is clearly the best player in the world, but she doesn't certainly move the needle, at least in this country... Someone like Osaka is hugely important for the women's tennis tour in the next 5 years," he went to suggest.