Andrea Petkovic Defends 'Underestimated' Coco Gauff Citing Steffi Graf Contrast Andrea Petkovic, a former world No. 9, has publicly defended Coco Gauff against widespread criticism, arguing that the 22-year-old two-time Grand Slam champion is often unfairly judged due to her service struggles and inconsistent forehand. Petkovic, speaking on the “Big T Podcast,” highlighted the double standard in how tennis fans evaluate Gauff, drawing parallels to the careers of legendary players like Steffi Graf and Boris Becker. Despite Gauff’s impressive resume—including two major titles and consistent top-five rankings—her perceived flaws, particularly her serve, have led to her being underestimated by critics and fans alike. Petkovic emphasized that these so-called weaknesses are, in fact, strengths that make Gauff a formidable opponent. Petkovic recounted her own experience facing Gauff in 2019, noting how difficult it was to compete against the American. She argued that Gauff’s mental resilience is her greatest asset, a point she echoed by agreeing with co-host Alison Riske-Amritraj’s assessment that Gauff’s “biggest weapon is her mind.” Petkovic praised Gauff’s ability to overcome challenges on the court, stating, “We don’t see it as a weapon, but it certainly is. Coco shows it every day.” This mental fortitude, Petkovic suggested, is what makes Gauff relatable to fans, despite her elite status. The German tennis icon also drew a compelling comparison between Gauff and the careers of Graf and Becker. She noted that Graf’s dominance often made her seem “robotic” to fans, while Becker’s visible struggles and dramatic comebacks—such as his legendary fifth-set comeback at the 1989 Wimbledon final—made him more emotionally relatable.#coco_gauff #andrea_petkovic #steffi_graf #alison_riske_amritraj #big_t_podcast
