Coco Gauff has been a force on tour ever since the Asian swing commenced last year in Beijing, and a few WTA legends believe the best has yet to come. In a recent look-ahead for the WTA’s website, Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova sung the praises of the Florida native.
Evert was clearly inspired by Gauff’s latest battle against World No.2 Iga Swiatek, a 6-4, 6-4 triumph by Gauff in the United Cup final.
“When I watched Iga play Coco, and Coco was winning the forehand rallies,” Evert said, according to the WTA Tour. “In that matchup, whoever’s forehand is better, is going to win the match. She is No.3 right now. It’s not that far out. I think she’s going to get there.”
Martina Navratilova also believes big things are in store for Gauff, who is currently ranked No.3, about 3000 points behind top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka. Evert’s biggest rival and fellow 18-time major champion believes that Gauff is going to take home a Slam title in 2025.
“I think Coco will win a major. Australia might be her best chance. But she can win on any surface — clay, grass, hard, it doesn’t matter.”
20-year-old Gauff won the US Open in 2023. She has won 18 of her last 20 matches dating back to the start of her title run in Beijing.