"I do believe she has absolutely": Serena Williams ex-coach backs Coco Gauff for Australian Open 2025 success

Ex-coach of the former world number one Serena Williams, Rennae Stubbs, believes that America’s Coco Gauff will be one of the favourites to lift the Australian Open next year. The first Grand Slam of the year will begin from January 12 in Melbourne where players from all over the world will participate to showcase their talent and secure the ultimate prize.

Stubbs, who is the ex-coach of the former world number one Serena, has recently spoken in her podcast where she backed Gauff to be amongst the favourites for the Australian Open in 2025. The 53-year-old was of the opinion that the reigning world number three finished the year on a high and will be hoping to go all the way in Melbourne next year.

“Looking at the training schedule right now of Coco Gauff on Instagram she is putting in the work,” she said. “I think after the way she finished the way she did that is going to be really interesting to see. I do believe she has absolutely put her hands up to be one of the favorites for the Australian Open.”

Gauff has had a fabulous end to the 2025 season, where she finished the WTA Finals in Riyadh for the first time in her career. She defeated China’s Zheng Qinwen in the final with a score of 3-6, 6-4, 7-6. It was her third title in the year. Before that, she also lifted the China Open after beating Czech Republic’s Karolina Muchova in the final in straight sets with a score of 6-1, 6-3. Gauff has a decent record while playing in the Australian Open. In the 2024 edition, she played in the semifinal of the mega-event for the first time in her career. However, she ended up on the losing side against the reigning world number one Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets with a score of 7-6, 6-4.