By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Wednesday, June 28, 2023

Chrissie Evert is convinced Coco Gauff is going "to win a Grand Slam."

Hall of Famer Evert suggests two quick fixes to Gauff's forehand to help make it happen.

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In a zoom call with the media today to promote ESPN's Wimbledon coverage starting at 6 a.m. on Monday, July 3rd on ESPN, Evert praised Gauff as a player with multiple major weapons.

"I see her now compared to 15 years old, at 15 we saw the skill set," ESPN analyst Evert said. "She had every shot in the book. She already had a very good grass court game where she was comfortable moving, she had power, she knew how to volley.

"Now she's been No. 1 in the world in doubles. Her volley is superb. I think she's gotten her serve under control. That was always a little bit of a niggly thing.

"Her body looks stronger, so I think she's put a lot more work into the gym."



Elite opponents can rush Gauff into forehand errors as her expansive takeback requires time to generate her forehand in contrast to her more compact backhand backswing.

Additionally, Gauff's extreme western grip on her forehand means opponent sometimes slide short slices and drop shots as digging out low balls can be challenging with that extreme grip.

Evert suggests two fixes for the Gauff forehand:

*Work on shortening the backswing.

*Accelerate through the shot and move the contact point out in front rather than allowing the ball to get on her hip as it sometimes does on the forehand.

"The only trigger point for her will be the forehand," Evert said. "Everybody talks about it. It's probably in her head by now.

"On a fast surface like grass, you've got to hit the ball in front of you and you've got to accelerate. She has a tendency to decelerate at times when she's nervous. She has a tendency to hit off the back foot.

"If she can get that forehand going, like Iga, very similar grips, but Iga shortens her swings and accelerates better. If she can get her forehand to be a little bit more like Iga's, I think she'll have the complete game."



Eighteen-time Grand Slam singles champion Evert said she's convinced Gauff will win Grand Slam titles.

"She's going to win a Grand Slam. I mean, she's so young still, it's going to happen for her eventually. Who knows, it could happen this Wimbledon."

Photo credit: Getty