EXCLUSIVE: Serena Williams statement sending shivers down rivals’ spines

little bit the same feeling I had when Serena was around. You can’t explain what it is, but it’s like the aura that she’s got around her. The calmness, the confidence, just everything about Coco this year seems to be right.

“Yeah, we talk about (Aryna) Sabalenka being the clear favourite, but if there is one player that will cause her problems, it’s definitely Coco and I wouldn’t be surprised if she leaves with the trophy this year.”

Gauff, the third seed, will take on 30th seed Leylah Fernandez of Canada in the third round at Margaret Court Arena on Friday night.

She told Stan Sport’s Duncan McKenzie-McHarg about her new motto of ‘turning inches into miles.’

“Every day, just give as much effort as you can, and that effort will pay off, you know, in some shape or form,” Gauff said on Grand Slam Daily.

“It might not be when you want it or it might be when you want it. It’s just putting in 100 per cent effort every day, just trying to get better.

“I read a book last year called Chop Wood, Carry Water, and it was one of the quotes in that book. So I pretty much started applying it…

“It’s great to start off strong and I only expect the level to get higher and higher.

“Yes, I’ve had good results in the past couple weeks, but I’m always looking to get better and always looking to add tools to my game.”