Serena Williams won the 2010s, who will dominate the next WTA decade?
By Chris Myson
Coco Gauff
Age during the next decade: 15-25
WTA ranking now: 68
WTA titles: 1
There is no better way to put the rise of Coco Gauff into perspective than looking at the fact she will still only be 25 (!) by the time the 2020s are coming to an end.
She is young enough that, in theory, she will be a candidate to take the honours in the 2030s as well.
Gauff had a remarkable breakthrough on the WTA Tour in the second half of the 2019 season.
The American made history at Wimbledon, becoming the youngest player to qualify for the main draw at just 15 years and 3 months.
Better was to come as she recorded a famous win over Venus Williams in the first round and then, with the eyes of the world on her, tasted victory in two further matches before bowing out to eventual winner Simona Halep in the last 16.
She followed that up with a creditable run to the third round of the US Open where it took defending champion Naomi Osaka to eliminate her, the pair endearing themselves to fans afterwards with a touching post-match exchange.
Coco Gauff still has a way to go, even though the initial signs are very, very promising.
Much of the hype and backing she has received in terms of what she can achieve in the future is based on her potential rather than proven results, despite her amazing start in those most recent two Slams.
She is not, like others on this list, a major winner. She is still climbing the rankings, at 68 to start the year and cannot even play a full Tour schedule yet because of her age, though the restrictions ease slightly when she turns 16 in March.
But fans will rightly believe that if Gauff’s development continues at a pace even half as fast as what she has shown so far, she should be contending for majors inside the next couple of years.
If or when she hopefully reaches that level, the youngster can spend much of the next decade entertaining a new generation of tennis fans in the same way Serena Williams has inspired this one.