‘Coco Gauff is WTA Finals favourite and has a lot in common with Serena Williams’, says former No 5

Ewan West 27 Oct 2023 12:22 PM

Coco Gauff fist pump

Daniel Hantuchova has picked Coco Gauff as her favourite to win the 2023 WTA Finals and believes she has “a lot in common” with tennis legend Serena Williams.

The former world No 5 described the teenage star as a “big fighter” and thinks her love of playing on the big stage and hard court ability give her the edge at the year-end championships.

Gauff overcame Aryna Sabalenka, who has since become world No 1, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 in the final of the 2023 US Open in September to triumph in her second Major final appearance.

The 19-year-old is at a career-high ranking of world No 3 after a superb run of 22 wins in her last 24 matches since an opening-round loss to Sofia Kenin at Wimbledon in July.

The American fell to a 2-6, 3-6 defeat against world No 2 Iga Swiatek in the semi-finals of the WTA 1000 event in Beijing earlier this month in her only tournament since the US Open.

Gauff will feature at the 2023 WTA Finals, which will be held in Cancun, Mexico from 29 October to 5 November next week. She will be making her second appearance at the season-ending ending tournament, having exited the 2022 edition at the group stage on her debut.

Along with Sabalenka, Swiatek and Gauff, Elena Rybakina, Jessica Pegula, Ons Jabeur, Marketa Vondrousova and Maria Sakkari have qualified for the singles event. Sakkari replaced Karolina Muchova, who was forced to withdraw due to injury.

In an interview with Tenis Portal, Hantuchova admitted it is difficult to choose a favourite to win the WTA Finals, but explained why she is backing Gauff and compared her to 23-time Grand Slam singles winner Williams.

“It’s super packed, but if I have to pick one favourite, it’s Coco Gauff. She won the last Grand Slam, she likes the hard [court] surface, she’s a big fighter and she has a lot in common with Serena. She loves the big stage and when all eyes are on her, so that’s why I favour her,” said the Slovakian.

Gauff will also be competing in the doubles event in Cacun, having qualified as part of the No 1 women’s doubles team with partner Pegula.

Hantuchova qualified for the WTA Finals twice in her career, losing in the opening knockout round in 2002 and going out at the round-robin stage in 2007.

The 40-year-old, who retired from tennis in 2017, won seven WTA titles and reached the semi-finals at the 2008 Australian Open during an impressive career.

The Slovak now works as a tennis analyst and commentator for Amazon Prime Video UK.