© Getty Images Sport – Julian Finney
Martina Navratilova is backing world No 3 Coco Gauff to win a Grand Slam next year and the tennis icon believes that could easily happen at Wimbledon. Gauff, who will be turning 20 in March, became a Grand Slam champion this past September after beating Aryna Sabalenka in the US Open final.
Although Gauff had a very disappointing Wimbledon this year, it doesn’t change the fact that the grass suits well her game. And considering the fact that the grass is world No 1 Iga Swiatek’s weakest surface, Navratilova thinks there are a couple of reasons to think of Gauff as the 2024 Wimbledon favorite.
“I would be surprised if she doesn’t win another major this year, and Wimbledon makes the most sense. I think it’s on grass because she’s better at the net than any of them and moves forward so well.
That and her improved drop shot. I think you’ll see that across the board next year, the [Carlos] Alcaraz influence on the sport. For me, Coco should be the favorite on grass. Particularly since by her own admission, it’s Iga’s most challenging surface,” Navratilova told the WTA website.
Navratilova backs Gauff for a strong 2024 Wimbledon run
Gauff introduced herself to the tennis world in 2019, when she as a 15-year-old qualifier reached the Wimbledon round-of-16. In her next two appearances, Gauff also reached the Wimbledon round-of-16 in 2021 before losing in the third round at The Championships in 2022.
This year, Gauff had her worst Wimbledon run as the American suffered a shock defeat to Sofia Kenin in the first round. Gauff was visibly dejected after a Wimbledon first-round loss, and when she returned to action on hard courts, she looked like a completely different player.
Now that Gauff is a Grand Slam champion, she can play more freely and that could lead to more major results. It remains to be seen if Gauff can win Wimbledon next year and make Navratilova’s prediction correct.
