Serena Williams’ former coach, Rick Macci, recently stepped forward to deny the comparisons between Coco Gauff and the 23-time Grand Slam champion.
According to the renowned mentor, no player on tour could match the WTA legend’s commendable achievements. However, he still found some technical resemblance between Gauff and Venus Williams’ playing style.
The admission came after Gauff secured her second major singles title at the 2025 French Open.
Rick Macci Finds Coco Gauff Akin to the Other Williams Sister
After Gauff’s commendable win over Aryna Sabalenka at the Roland Garros finals, comparisons of her being the next Serena Williams started making way on social media. Sharing his perspective on the matter, Williams’ childhood coach Rick Macci shared a post on X, making it clear that there’s no player like the 23-time Grand Slam champion.
“Was asked if Coco is like the next Serena. There is only one Serena,” he wrote.
Despite denying the claim, he suggested Venus Williams’ name as a better fit for the ongoing comparisons.
“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,” he added.
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
— Rick Macci (@RickMacci) June 14, 2025
Both Coco Gauff and Venus Williams are known for their powerful serves and aggressive baseline play. Another crucial aspect showcasing the close resemblance between the two was their focus on attacking the ball and dictating points. While Gauff averages her serve at a massive 128mph, Williams’ numbers are clocked between 113 to 124mph.
Gauff has mentioned in the past that Williams is her greatest inspiration. She also cited her legendary career as the reason behind even picking a racket. Gauff also worked as a stunt double for a young Serena in a Delta ad and trained at Serena’s coach’s academy.
Coco Gauff’s Humble Reaction on Being Compared to Serena Williams
Gauff became the first American woman to secure the French Open singles title since Serena Williams in 2015. While this achievement was enough to draw comparisons between her and the 23-time Grand Slam champion’s levels, the young champ stepped forward to offer a reaction. According to her, even a basic element that brings her name closer to the WTA legend is a matter of honor.
“It means a lot,” she told NBC. “She’s the reason I picked up the racket and the sport, and have the belief that I do. And for me, to be able to be in any conversation with her, obviously she has her own legacy that will never be touched, but for me just to even have like a 5% of that, means so much to me and dreaming big and watching her compete in real life… I don’t know.
Gauff now has another crucial opportunity lying ahead of her. With the notable rise at Roland-Garros, fans are expecting a stellar performance at Wimbledon, with which she could match Williams’ feat of winning the title in 2016.