Serena Williams sang the praises of Cori 'Coco' Gauff and Ashleigh Barty as she assessed the credentials of two players who could deny her a record-tying 24th Grand Slam title next weekend.
Seven-time Wimbledon champion Williams was an impressive 6-3, 6-4 winner against Germany's Julia Goerges on No. 1 Court on Saturday, setting up a last-16 clash with Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain, who beat Lauren Davis.
The 37-year-old American superstar could face World No. 1 Barty in the quarterfinals, while Gauff - who Williams says is "totally capable" of winning the title at the age of 15 - is on the opposite side of the draw.
Williams labelled Australian Barty a "beautiful player" with "great technique" and added: "She's just someone in the locker room that you just always root for.
"But in general I have been watching her game because I know that she's a force to be reckoned with. So I've been watching a lot."
Barty trounced British player Harriet Dart 6-1, 6-1 on Centre Court and will face American Alison Riske next. Riske, ranked 55th, beat Swiss 13th seed Belinda Bencic in three sets.
Williams says Gauff is equipped to achieve more success at Wimbledon, with the World No. 313 to play Simona Halep next.
"I think there's some 15-year-olds, like me, who wouldn't know what to do at Wimbledon," Williams said. "Then you have a 15-year-old like Coco who knows what to do. I think she's definitely on a different level, so I think she's totally capable and ready."
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