Former coach of Serena Williams, Rick Macci believes that while Coco Gauff will add more Grand Slams to her resume, she will not achieve the sort of dominance that his most famous student did.
Speaking to the Match Point Canada podcast, he called Gauff the best female athlete on the tour and likened her to an Olympic sprinter who can play tennis. But also pointed out flaws in her game saying that she covered them up by showing confidence on the court.
But while that's the case, he said that she won't win the same amount as Serena Williams.
“Coco, the best female athlete on the tour. She’s an Olympic sprinter with a racquet in her hand,” Serena Williams’ ex-coach said on the Match Point Canada podcast.
“The forehand’s a little dodgy. I know she kinda covered it up during the summer, but there’s a little bump there. But when you are confident, as you know, you don’t see it as much. But maybe, when you have the people change the pace, you’re not as confident,” he explained.
“So, she’s not Serena, but she can win some Grand Slams,” he concluded.
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.