Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley is predicting that Coco Gauff will rise to the occasion at Melbourne Park this year and end Aryna Sabalenka's reign.
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In the last two years, the Belarusian tennis star clinched back-to-back Australian Open titles - and she did it pretty impressively - by losing just one set in those 14 matches played.
Heading into this year's Happy Slam edition, many have the current world No. 1 as the top favorite for the title.
But tournament boss Tiley believes this is the year that will see Gauff lift her maiden title at Melbourne Park.
Coco, I think shell do the job. Shes playing the best tennis right now. Fortunately, her and Aryna are on course to play the same event. Sabalenka won in Brisbane, she does really well here, but Cocos gone up a notch," Tiley told the tournament's website.
Gauff was stopped in the semifinal last year
After becoming a Grand Slam champion at the 2023 US Open, the American didn't hide how determined she was to also collect her Slam No. 2 at the Australian Open.
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And she made a strong start, winning her opening five matches to make her first semifinal in Melbourne.
But then, Sabalenka sent her packing after handing her a 7-6 (2) 6-4 loss.
Meanwhile, Gauff learned that she will be taking on Sofia Kenin in this year'sfirst round at Melbourne Park.
Interestingly, Kenin beat the world No. 3 en route to winning the 2020 Australian Open title and she also defeated the current top-ranked American female tennis player in the 2023 Wimbledon first round.
Still, the 20-year-old will enter their upcoming matchup as the big favorite - but she certainly won't take the former world No. 4 for granted.
Gauff's projected path also includes possibly meeting Sabalenka in the semifinal and Iga Swiatek or Elena Rybakina in the final.
