Childhood coach Rick Macci disquietingly rubbishes all talks of Coco Gauff being the next Serena Williams, says “There’s no comparison”
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Serena Williams and Coco Gauff
In a FirstSportz exclusive interview, Serena and Venus Williams’ childhood coach Rick Macci has dismissed upcoming teenage American Coco Gauff’s comparisons with Serena saying, it didn’t make sense to compare them because they are far apart in talent.
“There’s no comparison. The comparisons are- there are two African-American girls, they are both crazy fast, and they are highly competitive. They both have great serves, Serena’s better, same backhands, and Serena has a much much better forehand. Serena had more raw, physical power and Serena is like a Pitbull,” Macci recently told FirstSportz.
However, Macci conceded that a comparison with Venus Williams might be fair for Gauff.
“I think there’s more of a comparison with Venus- the first serve, dodgy forehand, long wing span, and long arms,” Macci said.
Macci also had some positive things to say about Gauff in general and even some other American WTA players from the current generation.
I think all three of them (Danielle Collins, Jessica Pegula, and Coco Gauff) could be permanent fixtures in the Top 10. I think they could always be one of the better players. To dominate, I don’t know. If any of them could dominate, it’d be Coco because she has a little more firepower and she’s younger. There’s a little bit of a flaw in her forehand that hasn’t been corrected yet and as much as her serve is a weapon, it’s a liability too,” he said.
Boxing great Mike Tyson thinks Coco Gauff has something most other tennis players don’t have
Right on the contrary, boxing great Mike Tyson recently hailed Coco Gauff as an amazing player who has a lot of time to cultivate her skills. Tyson made the statements during an episode of the Advantage Connors podcast.
“I think she’s amazing. She has something that most don’t have and that’s time. She has a lot of time to cultivate her skill to become a lot better. And that’s what she has that I find most of the players don’t at this time,” Tyson said.
Despite not having won a WTA title this season, 18-year-old Gauff has impressed mightily having reached the final at Roland Garros this year and reaching a career-best ranking high of World No 8.
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Ashish Maggo
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