Serena Williams’ childhood coach Rick Macci has an recommendation for Coco Gauff, telling the 20-year-old to “experiment” along with her serve through the offseason as a result of doing various things may assist her get a greater understanding of what is the most effective for her in that regard.
As you in all probability know very nicely, the world No. 3 struggled mightily along with her serve in 2024, particularly within the second a part of the season. Ultimately, the American tennis star blasted a complete of 430 double faults and led the WTA Tour in that division. Since Gauff had 71 clashes this 12 months, that makes it six double faults per match.
In the course of the season, the 2023 US Open champion did not conceal that she was pissed off along with her serve and that she wish to handle it. Additionally, she indicated a number of instances that she was prepared to listen to different opinions and see if one thing may assist.
A few days in the past, Gauff shared that she kicked her preparations for the 2025 season.
Gauff did not conceal her frustration after a poor serving show in a US Open loss
In her return to the US Open because the defending champion, the top-ranked American feminine tennis participant noticed her title protection got here to an finish within the round-of-16 after Emma Navarro handed her a 6-3 4-6 6-3 loss. In the course of the match, the world No. 3 sprayed 19 double faults and the serve letting her down was one of many greatest causes behind her loss.
Later in her post-match press convention, Gauff acknowledged her serving woes had been in all probability “an emotional, mental thing” earlier than underlining that she was fed up with shedding matches that method.
“I positively need to get different opinions as a result of, you understand, and likewise I feel it’s typically extra of an emotional, psychological factor as a result of if I am going out on the follow court docket proper now, I might make 30 serves in a row. I’ve executed it earlier than. I feel it’s additionally simply sort of a psychological hurdle that I’ve to recover from when it comes with that. However I positively need to take a look at different issues as a result of I don’t need to lose matches like this anymore,” the 20-year-old said after her US Open exit.
Coco Gauff© Wuhan Open/X – Fair Use
In the same presser, Gauff explained what she thought was the issue.
“I am going down on my left facet lots on my serve, and it’s one thing I’m conscious of, but it surely’s robust within the second to I suppose strive to not do it,” she added at the time.
Gauff made a change but then also set a negative record
After failing to defend the US Open title, the former world No. 2 decided to split with coach Brad Gilbert and hire Matt Daly. When she returned to action, she won the WTA 1000 tournament in Beijing and also reached the Wuhan semifinal, before losing to Aryna Sabalenka after blasting a stunning 21 double faults during the match. By doing so, Gauff set the record for the most double faults hit in a single WTA match in 2024.
However, the American tennis star didn’t want to be negative afterward. Instead, she highlighted that she recently made some changes and tweaks to her serve and that she needed some time to get it going.
“New issues. Yeah, engaged on a brand new factor. It is anticipated. I solely had actually per week to study it, then I went to Beijing. I knew it wasn’t going to be nice. I am actually, like, shocked of how nicely I used to be in a position to do with it. We weren’t anticipating it. So yeah, I imply, total it is rising pains, ups and downs. Like, vice versa to Beijing. I had a day in between on daily basis to work on it, whereas right here it was sort of back-to-back. I feel it was progressively simply turning into more durable as a result of I obtained used to getting these reps in between the matches in Beijing,” Gauff explained after the Sabalenka loss.
At the WTA Finals in Riyadh – where the American ended up winning it all – she noted that correcting serve or anything else in mid-season was something very challenge.
“You sort of need to right it, and also you’re taking part in matches. Every part simply feels recent and new. It’s tough, however you bought to think about the long-term and the long term. I really feel like that is the appropriate resolution,” she mentioned.
It will likely be attention-grabbing to see if Gauff can resolve her serving points earlier than the beginning of 2025.
