Coco Gauff pegged to replace "leader" Iga Swiatek in bold 2025 prediction by Serena Williams' ex-coach

Serena Williams' childhood coach Rick Macci recently made a bold prediction that Coco Gauff is poised to overtake Iga Swiatek as the leading force on the WTA Tour in 2025. Swiatek wrapped up her 2024 season by representing Poland at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals, while the American's final tournament of the year came at the WTA Finals, which she won.

After looking at both Gauff and Swiatek's 2024 tennis seasons, Rick Macci took to social media and stated that despite the Pole's current status as the "leader in the WTA clubhouse," 2025 will bring a shift in the tennis landscape. He predicted that the World No.3's mental strength would propel her to surpass Swiatek.

“Mentally day in and day nothing beats Proven and IGA is the leader in the WTA clubhouse in that area. But 2025 will see a shift as others have improved mentally and they Believe and when you Believe you will Achieve. @CocoGauff," Macci posted on X (formerly known as Twitter).

Iga Swiatek had an impressive 2024 season, winning five titles, that included a third successive title at the French Open and the Qatar Open. The Pole also won three other WTA 1000 titles in Indian Wells, Madrid and Rome. She also clinched the bronze medal at the Paris Olympics.

On the other hand, Coco Gauff also produced some impressive performances, particularly towards the latter stages, when she won the China Open and the WTA Finals. The 20-year-old also won her maiden doubles Grand Slam title at the French Open, partnering Katerina Siniakova.

Additionally, Gauff also won the ASB Classic in Auckland.

Coco Gauff will begin her 2025 season at the United Cup while Iga Swiatek will play her 1st tournament at the Australian Open

Iga Swiatek & Coco Gauff at the 2023 WTA Finals [Image Source: Getty Images]

Coco Gauff will begin her 2025 season by representing the United States at the United Cup, which is scheduled to run from December 27, 2024, to January 5, 2025. Team USA will be competing in Group A and will face Canada and Croatia at the RAC Arena in Perth.

Meanwhile, Iga Swiatek, who was also slated to start her 2025 season at the United Cup by representing Poland, will miss out on the tournament because of the one-month ban she received from the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) after testing positive for trimetazidine earlier in the year.

The former World No.1 is expected to make her season debut at the 2025 Australian Open following the conclusion of the United Cup.