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Despite rising expectations, Coco Gauff is still not ready to win a singles Grand Slam tournament, according to former American tennis star Mary Joe Fernandez. The two-time Grand Slam doubles winner also believes, however, that Gauff's time will come as the teenage tennis sensation is heading in the right direction.
Gauff, who is currently the world No. 6 in singles, is counted among the favorites at the Grand Slams, particularly since she made the French Open final last season. However, she is yet to cross the quarter-final hurdle at all four Majors, barring her 2022 Roland Garros performance.
Speaking with Patrick McEnroe on his podcast show, Fernandez opined that Gauff is still a 'work in progress.'
"With Coco, I also think she's a work in progress. She's 18, there's a lot still to work on in her game," Mary Joe Fernandez said on the 'Holding Court with Patrick McEnroe' podcast.
Having said that, the former World No. 4 feels that Coco Gauff is constantly improving, as evidenced by her title win at the ASB Classic in Auckland before the 2023 Australian Open. Fernandez opined that Gauff's level of tennis in Auckland was some of the best she has ever played.
"But I also think that she's going in the right direction," Fernandez opined. "The win she had in Auckland was some of the best tennis I've seen from her. She's working really hard on the forehand, she's working really hard on the serve."
Fernandez further dissected Gauff's serve at the start of the season, highlighting how the youngster has improved that aspect of her game since last year.
"I felt that the serve in Australia was way better, very few double faults...I felt like that's something she's corrected and she's getting the margins, getting the spin," she added.
Coco Gauff handed tough draw at WTA Dubai Tennis Championships
Coco Gauff, seeded fifth at this week's WTA Dubai Tennis Championships, has a tough path to the title ahead of her.
Gauff will begin her campaign in the Round of 32 against the winner of the match between Rebeka Masarova and Aliaksandra Sasnovich. She could then face Australian Open finalist Elena Rybakina in the Round of 16, before a quarterfinal clash against 4th seed Caroline Garcia.
Gauff is also in the same half of the draw as World No. 1 Iga Swiatek.
The 18-year-old lost to Veronika Kudermetova in the quarterfinals of the Qatar Open last week, after beating Petra Kvitova in the Round of 16. Gauff won the women's doubles title in Doha alongside Jessica Pegula.
The American teenager is searching for her fourth WTA singles title in Dubai this week.
