Coco Gauff enjoyed another strong year in 2024 as she won the second-biggest title of her young career.
There are few WTA stars who have shone brighter in recent years than Gauff, who continues to perform at the highest level.
Gauff won the WTA Finals in 2024, beating world number one and two, Aryna Sabalenka, and Iga Swiatek on her way to the title.
It was the second big title in as many months for the young American, as Gauff beat Karolina Muchova to win the China Open in October.
Gauff then helped Team USA win the United Cup to kickstart her 2025 season, as she won ‘MVP’ at the event, after going undefeated in her seven matches.
She’ll be looking to achieve even more success throughout the rest of the year, as one legendary coach has now predicted whether he thinks Gauff has what it takes to become world number one.
Serena Williams’ ex-coach Rick Macci thinks Coco Gauff becoming world number one is ‘around the corner’
Serena Williams’ former coach Rick Macci has taken to X over the past week, to comment on the American star’s chances of becoming world number one.
“Number one around the corner for Coco Gauff according to Rick Macci,” he said.
“Her counterpunching with unreal quality off the backhand wing with an extreme open stance is the best on the planet.
“Solid as granite and enables Coco to live another day and keep in play.”
Macci then explained how Gauff will take her United Cup win in stride as she heads to the Australian Open.
“Confidence breeds confidence,” he said.
“She always had that in her back pocket but now shifted to her front pocket and Coco will launch like a rocket.
“Number one around the corner.”
The Williams’ sister’s ex-coach then detailed the area in which Gauff is now the ‘best’ in the world.
“Her nasty breaking wide serve on the deuce court is dancing and skidding another foot shorter in the court, and right now it is the best can opener wide serve in the sport,” said Macci.
Gauff beat Muchova and Swiatek at the United Cup, two players that many believe have a strong chance of picking up Grand Slam titles in 2025.
Her win against Muchova, however, was dominant, as she asserted herself in America’s semi-final tie with Czechia, giving her nation an early 1-0 lead.
It remains to be seen if Gauff can reach number one in the new year as Macci predicts, but if she can continue with the form she has shown so far in 2025, it may well be just ‘around the corner’.
What has Rick Macci said about Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, and Jannik Sinner ahead of the Australian Open?
Never afraid to make his voice heard, Macci has also given his thoughts on the top stars on the ATP Tour ahead of the 2025 Australian Open.
“This year will be all about one thing and one thing only for the Serbian sniper,” he said.
“Staying injury free and many will wager the joker [Novak Djokovic] gets another Major.”
With Macci considering the 24-time Slam champion’s chances of adding to his tally, he also considered the fighting spirit of the man who beat him in the Australian Open last year.
“[Jannik] Sinner is here to stay,” he said.
“When you control the baseline and your on-the-rise firepower stays rock solid for over an hour, and throw in a mindset that loves the battle, the Italian flamethrower is hard to rattle.”
He also had some pretty big praise for the man who shared the four Major titles in 2024 with Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz.
“Carlos [Alcaraz] is a generational talent the sport has never seen,” said Macci.
“With his uncanny versatility and overall flare for the game there are speed bumps on the road to rare air.
“When it is all said and done the Spanish rocket will have double-figure Slams in the back pocket.”
Macci finished up by highlighting the key area he thinks Sinner and Alcaraz should have focused on over the past few months.
“Everybody in [the] off season works hopefully harder,” he said.
“The real key for [Carlos] Alcaraz, and [Jannik] Sinner is about working smarter on the key microscopic elements that unfold in a match on key points that maybe is a little different than the past so they do not get passed.”
Djokovic, Sinner, Alcaraz, and Gauff, will all look to take on board Macci’s praise and advice at the Australian Open which begins on January 12.
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