Coco Gauff shoulders plenty of burden for someone so young.
However, she has almost earned that right, as Billie Jean King famously says: ‘Pressure is a privilege’.
As catchy and iconic as that quote is, that does not mean players need more pressure piling on them, with this 22-year-old American already dealing with enough as it is.
The last thing she needs is comments, especially from King herself, predicting almost impossible things from her career.
Coco Gauff is a special talent, but to expect Serena Williams-level success might be setting the bar a tad too high.
Billie Jean King’s comments about Coco Gauff that left John McEnroe stunned
Speaking last night live on ESPN, the panel was naturally effusive in their praise for Gauff.
However, as much as she may have meant it, King perhaps went overboard.
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She argued: “I love watching her. Coco could be the greatest player that’s ever lived.”
This prompted a stunned response from John McEnroe, who stuttered as he argued: “Whoa, whoa, whoa, wow. Whoa, what about Serena? That’s a tough act to follow.”
King simply replied by insisting: “Serena has the most beautiful serve the women’s game has ever seen.”
Gauff could ascend to world number one at this US Open, but she needs plenty to go her way. To compare her to Williams, after all she has achieved, seems unfair.
Coco Gauff does not need more pressure added to her shoulders
The reason why it is so unfair is the narrative this creates.
Someone with as much fame and weight as King might need to think more carefully before she forges an expectation that is basically impossible.
Gauff deserves to be celebrated, but for what makes her special and unique, and for what she achieves in her career.
She is an elite-level player, but if people want her to conclude her career as the greatest of all time, they are likely to be disappointed, although she is already a guaranteed Hall of Famer.
Coco Gauff’s achievements at 22 compared to Serena Williams at 22
To perhaps exhibit just how impossible this task is, it’s worth comparing how Gauff’s current career compares with Serena’s when she was 22.
Sadly, it simply doesn’t come close.
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Gauff’s career has been stunning thus far, with two Grand Slam titles, including the US Open, three WTA 1000 titles, 12 total tour-level titles and a WTA Finals success as well.
However, in almost every metric, Serena surpasses her at the same age.
She had won six majors, five 1000s, 34 total titles, had held all four Grand Slam titles at one time (the Serena Slam) and thus completed the Career Grand Slam at 21, whilst also winning an Olympic gold medal.
Not to mention that, whilst Gauff has never been world number one, Williams had held that title for 57 weeks.
