The startling parallels between tennis sensation Coco Gauff and the legendary Serena Williams are becoming increasingly hard to ignore. Gauff, just 20 years old, has been echoing Serena’s impressive milestones, one after another, raising the question: Is she the next Serena in the making?
Just like Serena, Gauff became the first American teenager to claim the US Open title in 202 since Serena’s 1999 victory. Last season, Gauff added another feather to her cap by becoming the first American woman to clinch the WTA Finals trophy since 2014, a title last held by none other than Serena. Even Serena’s childhood coach, Rick Macci, acknowledges the similarities, describing the pair as sharing “common elements.”
The latest parallel came to light at the Indian Wells tournament. Steve Weissman, a respected tennis insider, shared during a Tennis Channel live podcast on March 12, Gauff’s incredible achievement at the ongoing BNP Paribas Open. Gauff advanced to the fourth round at Indian Wells, becoming “the youngest American woman to make the round of 16 at Indian Wells for three years in a row since Serena.” Serena achieved this same feat more than two decades ago, from 1999 to 2001.
Former WTA American pro Coco Vandeweghe recently praised Gauff’s performance, particularly against Greece’s Maria Sakkari. Gauff had previously lost to Sakkari in the quarterfinals of last season, but this time she turned the tables to secure a win. Vandeweghe dubbed Gauff as “one of the tougher players,” lauding her ability to bounce back after initial setbacks. Gauff’s victory over Sakkari, with a score of 7-6(1), 6-1, stands as a testament to her fighting spirit and determination.
Despite a shaky start in her opening match against Uchijima, where she committed 21 double faults, Gauff demonstrated considerable improvement. She overcame the Japanese player in three sets and then secured a win against Sakkari in just two sets. However, Vandeweghe believes Gauff’s game still has room for improvement.
Gauff, now in the fourth round, is yet to secure a title at Indian Wells, a tournament Serena won twice in 1999 and 2001. However, Gauff appears determined to change this narrative, showing clear focus on claiming the title this time around.
Reflecting on her performance against Uchijima, Gauff admitted, “Yeah, it was a tough match. I didn’t play as well as I would like to, but full credit to her. She stepped it up when she needed to.” Gauff recognized the need to reduce her double faults, as it could have potentially led to a straight-set match. Her subsequent performance against Sakkari proved that she indeed learned from her previous encounter.
Looking forward, Gauff is set for a rematch of January’s Australian Open fourth round against Belinda Bencic on Wednesday. Bencic is coming off three consecutive victories at Indian Wells. Gauff currently leads Bencic 2-1 in their head-to-head tally. The upcoming match promises to be an exciting one as Bencic looks to avenge her quarterfinal loss against Gauff earlier this year.
As Gauff’s career continues to mirror that of Serena Williams, the world watches with bated breath to see if she will indeed become the next Serena. Only time will tell.
