"It’s like a predator in the woods": Andrea Petkovic reveals reason behind Emma Navarro's superiority over Coco Gauff

Former German player Andrea Petkovic has highlighted the reason behind America’s Emma Navarro’s superiority over fellow countrywoman Coco Gauff. The 23-year-old recently finished a remarkable season in which she secured joint third-most wins in women’s tennis at the highest level in the singles category.

She finished with 53 victories in 77 matches, which is equal to world number two Poland’s Iga Swiatek, only behind world number one Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka and Gauff. On the other hand, Gauff is already regarded as one of the best players in the world, and she once again showed that after winning her maiden WTA Finals title in Riyad, Saudi Arabia.

The reigning world number three defeated China’s Zheng Qinwen in the final with a score of 3-6, 6-4, 7-6. In the calendar year, Navarro and Gauff faced each other three times, and the 23-year-old came out on top on two occasions. Their most recent meeting was in the US Open fourth round, where Navarro emerged victorious with a score of 6-3, 4-6, 6-3. Before that, she also defeated Gauff in the fourth round at Wimbledon in straight sets with a score of 6-4, 6-3.

Former German player Petkovic has recently spoken in The Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast, where she highlighted why Navarro has an edge when playing against Gauff. The 37-year-old was of the opinion that the New York-born star’s ability to read the game pattern has proven to be too much for the one-time Grand Slam winner.

“I think she is just a bit behind the best five players in the world right now, but I definitely see her making the quarters,” she said. “Her biggest strength is that she reads energies of the game, that’s why she keeps beating Coco Gauff. It’s like a predator in the woods, she smells the nervousness on the other side. It was the same against Paula [Badosa], 5-1 and then Emma just didn’t miss a ball, and back to 5-5.”