With 23 Grand Slam titles under her belt, Serena Williams is the undisputed superwoman of contemporary tennis. Yet at 39, by all estimates, he is nearing the end of his career.
The question then is: who is ready to take her place at the top of women’s tennis once Serena Williams finally decides to quit? Tennis legend Chris Evert has identified three young stars who he thinks could compete for Serena’s big shoes once she steps away from the game.
Evert on the next Serena Williams in women’s tennis
Evert chose rising Polish star Iga Swiatek, reigning US Open champion Naomi Osaka and American teen star Coco Gauff as the ones to fill Serena’s void once she retires.
codename kids next door : numbuh 5 reporting for duty pic.twitter.com/xpp3vuUUVU — Naomi Osaka Naomi Osaka (@naomiosaka) November 1, 2020
Currently ranked 17th in the WTA rankings, Swiatek was crowned this year’s French Open champion, her first Grand Slam title.
Evert said she was surprised by Swiatek’s rise, as the Pole didn’t impress her much at first glance. With already a WTA singles title under his belt at age 16, Evert said he was hopeful Gauff would fix his flaws this year and finally live up to his expectations.
Speaking at a Eurosport event, Evert said: “I really didn’t notice Swiatek that much last year. It has tremendous potential. There’s no question about that. “On Japanese sensation Osaka, Evert said:” When I was asked to cast my future star a couple of years ago, I chose Naomi. “
When asked if she still considered Gauff among the rising stars of women’s tennis, Evert said: “I am still going to look for Coco Gauff to win many titles.” While Siwatek’s shares have risen significantly since her triumph at Roland Garros, Evert he supported Gauff in fine-tuning his game and catching up with his teammates.
After enjoying a decisive year in 2019, Gauff has suffered a drop in form. However, Evert said the teenager has many years to go in the game to work through her cracks and be a giant of women’s tennis.
“I don’t know what’s going on with your service. I mean, I know what’s going on with his serve, I know he’s doing it technically wrong and I think he’s in his second year on tour, ”Evert said of Gauff.
“I think things are very different now than they were last year when she could play with a lot of freedom and without pressure,” Evert added. “Now we can say that she is nervous, she commits a double fault, 16 or 17 times per game.
But I still think that in two years, it is very possible that I will win a Grand Slam, “said Evert. “I believe in her, in her ability and in her way of thinking right now. Saying that, there are so many players, there are so many depths right now that it’s unbelievable, and so many young players are emerging, ”Evert said.
As for Serena, she failed in her bid to claim her 24th Grand Slam crown at Flushing Meadows this year, making a last four stage start.
