I voted yes, but really it's still up in the air. However, to be near the top 20 at 19 years old, the hype is not entirely unjustified. There have been top ten players made of much less than Sloane's forehand, so I believe she could be top 5. The questions remain will her backhand and second serve improve? I don't know, but she does have a weapon, and that is something you can't teach or earn.
I voted yes, but really it's still up in the air. However, to be near the top 20 at 19 years old, the hype is not entirely unjustified. There have been top ten players made of much less than Sloane's forehand, so I believe she could be top 5. The questions remain will her backhand and second serve improve? I don't know, but she does have a weapon, and that is something you can't teach or earn.
I personally never recalled Serena ever giving this compliment to younger players. Of course I may be wrong, but I've never heard Serena say "she will eventually be the best..."
She said it about Wozniacki after their match at Sydney in 2009, and within 2 years Caro was World #1. When the Lord issues her holy catechism, you may as well book IT!
I agree. Had someone told me, four years ago, that Caroline Wozniacki would be number one in the world I would have thought they were on crack. Similarly, I never expected players like Schiavone and Stosur to win Grand Slams and Sloane has even more time on her side then they do/did. Of course, who knows? She might fizzle but as far as teenagers go she's honestly one of best so I don't see why the Top 10 would be out of her reach provided she makes so serious improvements in the coming years.
She definitely can. The biggest pressure she may face, especially when the Williams sisters retire, is the media hype that will paint her as the next "Black Hope".