18-time major champion and current WTA Finals ambassador Chris Evert puts Madison Keys at the top of the list of young players who will someday take the place of Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova at the top of the rankings, and she believes the 20-year-old is getting closer to realizing her true potential.

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Asked to name the top prospects from the youngest generation in the WTA today during a media roundtable to promote her ambassadorial role with the WTA Finals at Singapore, Evert didn’t hesitate to single the American out.

When asked where she places Keys on the list of top prospects, she was quick to reply: "First."

“Because of the power,” continued Evert. “Because she's got a serve, a natural—that natural power where she just doesn't have to work at it. Just comes natural to her. That motion, that swing, is very much like Serena. She's going to hold serve 95 percent of the time.

“Then, when you look at her groundstrokes, they're effortless. It's effortless power. It's beautiful. I think it's beautiful to watch.”

Evert added: “I think emotionally she's finally starting to catch up. I think it was all about—we all knew it would happen when we saw her at 12 years old, but when is it going to happen and when is she going to be ready? I sense that she's finally ready now.”

Keys, who began to work with Lindsay Davenport and Davenport’s husband Rick Leach this off-season, appears to be benefitting from the collaboration in many ways. Evert says that the similarities between Keys and Davenport make them a great fit.

“I think Lindsay and her husband are very good for Madison,” she said. “I think because Lindsay played very much like Madison and they very much physically and mentally have the same sort of issues in their game, I think Lindsay can help and relate to her a lot. But I also think a lot of it is she's ready.”