Speaking at a conference call for ESPN’s coverage of Wimbledon, 18-time major champion Chris Evert made no qualms about tabbing 21-year-old American Madison Keys as a future major winner.
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“I know we all tried to rush Madison Keys,” Evert explains. “I’ve known Madison since she was 10 years old. Now I’ve come to the conclusion that in her own time she will win a Grand Slam, but it has to be on her terms. She has to make all the decisions. I think we’ve seen some signs from her winning Birmingham. We saw it [in 2014] when she won Eastbourne. This girl can play on grass.”
Evert says that physically Keys is ready to make her ascent. It’s the mental and the emotional aspects of her game that will have to evolve further. “Her serve I think matches Serena’s. I think it’s the only serve out there that matches Serena’s as far as power and being a threat, being unreturnable,” she said. “I’ve always had a lot of confidence in Madison. I think in her own time, the physical has always been advanced for her, her game, her power. Once the mental and emotional catch up, which I see signs of right now, I think she’s going to win some majors. I don’t have any doubt in my mind.”
Evert also commented on the difficulties that Spain’s Garbiñe Muguruza might face at Wimbledon after claiming her first major title a few weeks ago at Roland Garros.
Having won Roland Garros seven times, Evert knows how hard the turnaround can be. Evert herself only managed the difficult-to-achieve “Channel Slam” once (in 1974), and she knows that Muguruza will also be dealing with extremely high expectations after breaking through in Paris.
“Muguruza, she still has to mature a little bit,” Evert said. “She’s still young. She still has to get probably a little more consistent with her results in the smaller tournaments.”
Evert thinks that Muguruza has the potential to be the WTA’s next No. 1 despite those consistency issues. “You’ve got to put your money on Muguruza (to be the next No.1) because first of all, you have to have power in today’s game,” Evert said. “When I look at the next three, I look at Radwanska, Kerber and Halep. I don’t think either of those three are going to end up No. 1 in the world. They don’t have that sort of overwhelming power. Muguruza does have it, very much like Serena, [she is] following in her footsteps.”
But to expect the Spaniard to win back-to-back majors this year? That might be a little too big of an ask, says Evert.
“She’s come a long way,” Evert said. “I think she’s going to have a tough Wimbledon. It’s very hard to carry that momentum. Very few people have won the French and Wimbledon back to back, especially at that young of an age. That will be a real curiosity for me if she can carry that momentum and confidence and do well, think about last year reaching the finals, or is she going to have a hard time resetting, especially in dealing with people’s expectations.”