Veteran coach Rick Macci has warned that Coco Gauff has not reached his true potential as he made two Grand Slam predictions involving the American prodigy.
The American who has credited for the development of the careers of tennis legends Serena Williams and Venus Williams backed the teenager to win a major on every surface and feels she has the game to reach the double digits in Grand Slam titles.
Gauff was beaten in straight sets (7-6, 6-4) by eventual Champion Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka in the semis of Australian Open in Melbourne last week. The 2023 US Open champion was a runner-up on Parisian clay at Roland Garros in 2022, where she fell to Iga Swiatek in straight sets in the championship match.
On the grass, the World No. 3’s best result to date is reaching the final 16 at SW19 in 2019 and 2021.
In a post shared on his Twitter account, Macci suggested that Gauff will continue to march on and build on her Flushing Meadows victor last September to win majors on all three surfaces of the sport.
During an interview was asked about the future of the Delray Dart @CocoGauff.The 19 year old has not even Scratched the SURFACE as I feel she will win a Slam on Every SURFACE.
— Rick Macci (@RickMacci) January 31, 2024
“During an interview [I] was asked about the future of the ‘Delray Dart’ @CocoGauff. The 19-year-old has not even Scratched the SURFACE as I feel she will win a Slam on Every SURFACE,” wrote the coach and analyst.
In another recent tweet, the American addressed how many Grand Slam trophies Gauff could have at the end of her career: “Was asked how many Grand Slams @CocoGauff can win. Because I love her BACKBONE as much as her BACKHAND the Delray Dart could order double digits off the menu.”
Macci compared Gauff’s mentality to that of Swiss 20-time GS champion, Roger Federer after the Australian Open.
“I love her motto, ‘No days off’. Coco’s only gonna get better. And what I really love, is she has the mindset like Roger Federer,” Macci told NBC News.
The 69-year-old also praised 2-time Australian Open champion Sabalenka for overcoming her serving yips and winning back to back titles in Melbourne.
“Sabalenka deserves so much credit. Any player that hits 428 double faults in 55 matches in 2022 and then wins the 2024 Australian open final with not one Double the rest of the tour is in Trouble,” Macci wrote on Twitter.
Macci has involved with the careers of five players who achieved the World No. 1 rank in their careers including Jennifer Capriati, Andy Roddick Serena Williams, Venus Williams and Maria Sharapova. The American also provided coaching help to WTA GS winners Mary Pierce, Anastasia Myskina and Sofia Kenin.