Coco Gauff has been a standout talent on the WTA Tour since bursting onto the scene at just 15 years old. Despite her remarkable rise, a famous prediction from John McEnroe regarding her reaching world number one by age 20 did not come true as expected.
John McEnroe’s Expectations for Gauff’s Early Career
Gauff first captured global attention during Wimbledon 2019, where she qualified for her debut Grand Slam main draw and defeated five-time Wimbledon champion Venus Williams 6-4, 6-4 on Centre Court. Her impressive performance earned praise from many, including McEnroe, who spoke to the BBC shortly after the match.
McEnroe highlighted Gauff’s combination of physical and mental maturity for her age.
“Gauff’s not only physically mature, but also mentally,”
he said.
“I look at the way she plays. If she’s not number one in world by 20 I will be absolutely shocked.”
This prediction placed immense expectations on the young American, as only five teenagers in WTA history had reached the top ranking, with Martina Hingis being the youngest at 16 years and 182 days.
Alongside McEnroe’s prediction, former teenage world number one Tracy Austin also voiced enthusiasm about Gauff’s potential. Austin noted,
“People have been talking about Coco for years. They have now started to recognise her internationally.”
She added,
“Obviously she’s a tremendous athlete, but to walk on court to face Venus, a player who she idolises, there were plenty of opportunities for her to get tight and nervous. She has been raised for greatness and this is beginning.”
How Gauff’s Career Progressed Compared to Early Predictions
While Gauff impressed across her early years on tour and secured two Grand Slam titles, she did not achieve McEnroe’s forecast of reaching number one before turning 20. The teenager peaked at world number three following her 2023 US Open victory. Now 21, she has improved her ranking further but has yet to claim the top spot on the WTA leaderboard.
Prospects for Gauff Reaching Number One in the Near Future
Currently ranked second globally, Coco Gauff trails Aryna Sabalenka, who holds the number one position with 12,420 ranking points, leading Gauff by 4,751. Although the gap is significant, important tournaments remain ahead, including the final Grand Slam of 2025. Sabalenka enters this US Open as the defending champion, tasked with defending 2,000 points.
Gauff herself has ranking points to protect from previous victories at the WTA Finals and China Open, which keep her contention viable. Despite Gauff being the closest challenger to Sabalenka, another WTA player has been predicted to finish the year as number one. However, Gauff has expressed that winning major titles matters more to her than holding the number one ranking.