Daniel Hantuchova feels Coco Gauff is the favorite to take the 2023 WTA year-end Finals crown as she suggests the young American shares similarities with 23-time major champion and compatriot Serena Williams.
The Slovakian hailed teenage sensation as a “big fighter” and thinks her determination to go on big stages of and hard court game give her the advantage over others in the field. Gauff prevailed against world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the US Open 3-set final (2-6, 6-3, 6-2) earlier last month to seal her maiden Grand Slam in the second final appearance.
The American currently enjoys the career high rank of WTA #3 after winning 22 out of her last 24 matches since losing to Sofia Kenin in the Wimbledon opener back in July. Gauff lost to #2 seed Iga Swiatek in straight sets (2-6, 3-6) in the last four at the Beijing Masters 1000 earlier this month. The 19-year-old will participate in the 2023 WTA Finals hosted in Cancun next week. This will be her second season-ending Finals appearance after having lost in the group stage last year.
Apart from Sabalenka, other top seven that will compete at the year-end championships include Swiatek and Gauff, Elena Rybakina, Jessica Pegula, Ons Jabeur, Marketa Vondrousova and Maria Sakkari. Sakkari entered the race by subbing Karolina Muchova, who was forced to pull out of the event because of injury.
Talking to Tenis Portal, Hantuchova said that it will be difficult to choose a clear favorite for the WTA showpiece Finals event but explained why she was tilts her weight towards Gauff and what she finds common between her and the Serena Williams.
“It’s super packed, but if I have to pick one favorite, it’s Coco Gauff. She won the last Grand Slam, she likes the hard [court] surface, she’s a big fighter and she has a lot in common with Serena. She loves the big stage and when all eyes are on her, so that’s why I favor her,” said the former WTA No. 5.
Gauff will also feature in the doubles event alongside fellow American Jessica Pegula.
In her career, Hantuchova has qualified for the WTA Finals on two occasions in 2002 and 2007. The 40-year-old Slovak who retired from tennis in 2017, reached the semifinals at the Melbourne Pak in 2008 while winning seven tour-level titles. She presently works as a tennis analyst and commentator for Amazon Prime Video UK.