Rick Macci, the former coach of Serena Williams, recently shared his views on the comparisons between Serena and rising star Coco Gauff after Gauff’s victory at the French Open. Macci emphasized that while Serena is unique, Coco shares more similarities with Venus Williams, highlighting their shared strengths and playing style.

Macci coached Venus and Serena Williams during the early stages of their careers in the early 1990s in Compton. Since then, he has worked with multiple former World No. 1 players such as Maria Sharapova, Andy Roddick, and Jennifer Capriati. His extensive experience provides valuable insight into Coco Gauff’s development as a top tennis player.

Comparing Coco Gauff’s Style to Venus Williams

On June 14, shortly after Coco Gauff’s French Open win, Rick Macci commented on social media about the common traits he saw between Gauff and Venus Williams. He noted that both players exhibit a “bullet backhand” and described Gauff as “gazelle fast” and “lightning quick,” traits that closely align with Venus’ playing characteristics. Macci also mentioned their aggressive forehands and a competitive mindset that fuels their performance.

“Was asked if Coco is like the next Serena. There is only one Serena. But she has more common threads like Venus. Gazelle fast. Lightning quick. Loose wires. Burning Rage. Whippy forehand. Bullet backhand. And the most common Thread a Champions Head. @CocoGauff @Venuseswilliams,” Serena Williams’ former coach wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Shared Mental Strength Among Serena, Venus, and Gauff

Macci has addressed comparisons among the three athletes before, emphasizing the mental toughness that all of them possess. In November 2024, he reiterated that while there can only be one Serena and one Venus, Coco shares the critical quality of maintaining composure under pressure, a characteristic that stabilizes their performance in high-stakes matches.

“Asked if Coco is the next Venus or Serena. There is only one Venus. Only one Serena,” Rick Macci wrote on X in November 2024. “But the Same Thread all 3 share and the most important Thread is how the Thread stabilizes under pressure and all 3 are cut from the same Cloth. @CocoGauff @Venuseswilliams @serenawilliams.”

Physical Gifts and Athleticism in Coco Gauff

Macci has also highlighted Coco Gauff’s physical conditioning, attributing much of her athletic prowess to her strong family genetics. He believes these natural gifts make Gauff one of the most formidable athletes currently on the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) tour.

“Her family genetics is off the charts and many just do not understand. Her little bro even makes her look slow! She has so many gifts you cannot teach. She has the daily double as Coco has a backbone made of Granite and she is the best WTA athlete on the Planet,” Serena Williams’ ex-coach Rick Macci wrote on his X account last month.

Coco Gauff is preparing for the upcoming Berlin Ladies Open, an important step before Wimbledon begins in July, as she continues to build on her successes and further develop her game under the spotlight of top-level professional tennis.

Rick Macci’s insights not only reinforce the uniqueness of Serena Williams’ legacy but also recognize the promising potential in Coco Gauff, particularly in how she resembles Venus Williams in style and mentality. These observations provide a thoughtful perspective on how the next generation of American tennis stars is evolving while paying respect to the Williams sisters’ lasting influence on the sport.