Coco Gauff has made improvements to her serving and her forehand. And the strides in both of those areas are among the reasons she's considered one of the few women ready to challenge two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka for the title at the Australian Open.

Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley is predicting that Coco Gauff will rise to the occasion at Melbourne Park this year and end Aryna Sabalenka's reign. In the last two years, the Belarusian tennis star clinched back-to-back Australian Open titles - and she did it pretty impressively - by losing just one set in those 14 matches played.

In a match slated for Saturday, Sofia Kenin (No. 81 in rankings) will face Coco Gauff (No. 3) in the Round of 128 at the Australian Open.Gauff’s last competition was a win, 7-5, 6-2, over