For a fleeting moment during the intense match against Jessica Pegula, Coco Gauff appeared poised for success. The American had navigated her way through the first set and was slowly regaining ground in the second. She reached set point on her serve at 6-5, but it wasn't enough to prevent a dramatic collapse. Three consecutive double faults handed over the break, leaving Pegula with no chance to fail.
This sequence encapsulates Gauff's ongoing struggles with her second serve, an issue that has plagued her throughout the season. Her poor serve is evident in the numbers: 9.9%, the highest double-fault rate among top-50 players this year. Even Amanda Anisimova, the next worst performer inside the top 10, fared better at 6.2%.
Gauff's game is otherwise strong. She boasts exceptional defensive skills and athleticism, a sublime two-handed backhand, and a well-rounded approach to the game. However, her forehand can be inconsistent, and it's her second serve that stands in the way of sustained success.
To address this issue, Gauff has undergone significant changes with new coach Gavin MacMillan. They tweaked her service technique, particularly on knee bend and head movement, which had become a liability. The results have been promising, but the jury is still out on whether these adjustments will yield long-term benefits.
Gauff's decision to implement these changes ahead of the US Open was seen as bold, if not reckless, by some observers. As the world No 3, she's accustomed to winning nearly every match, which can make it challenging to focus on improvement. Yet, at just 21 years old, Gauff recognizes the importance of development and growth.
As the WTA Finals get underway with Gauff as the defending champion, the real question remains: will her newfound resolve pay dividends? A look at Aryna Sabalenka's own journey offers hope – after struggling with her second serve three years ago, Sabalenka has significantly improved. It won't take time for Gauff to see similar results, and if MacMillan's efforts are half as successful, the sky's the limit.
Ultimately, it comes down to one shot: Gauff's second serve. If she can overcome this weakness, she'll be unstoppable. The question is, will she be able to build on her recent progress and achieve sustained success in the coming years?
This sequence encapsulates Gauff's ongoing struggles with her second serve, an issue that has plagued her throughout the season. Her poor serve is evident in the numbers: 9.9%, the highest double-fault rate among top-50 players this year. Even Amanda Anisimova, the next worst performer inside the top 10, fared better at 6.2%.
Gauff's game is otherwise strong. She boasts exceptional defensive skills and athleticism, a sublime two-handed backhand, and a well-rounded approach to the game. However, her forehand can be inconsistent, and it's her second serve that stands in the way of sustained success.
To address this issue, Gauff has undergone significant changes with new coach Gavin MacMillan. They tweaked her service technique, particularly on knee bend and head movement, which had become a liability. The results have been promising, but the jury is still out on whether these adjustments will yield long-term benefits.
Gauff's decision to implement these changes ahead of the US Open was seen as bold, if not reckless, by some observers. As the world No 3, she's accustomed to winning nearly every match, which can make it challenging to focus on improvement. Yet, at just 21 years old, Gauff recognizes the importance of development and growth.
As the WTA Finals get underway with Gauff as the defending champion, the real question remains: will her newfound resolve pay dividends? A look at Aryna Sabalenka's own journey offers hope – after struggling with her second serve three years ago, Sabalenka has significantly improved. It won't take time for Gauff to see similar results, and if MacMillan's efforts are half as successful, the sky's the limit.
Ultimately, it comes down to one shot: Gauff's second serve. If she can overcome this weakness, she'll be unstoppable. The question is, will she be able to build on her recent progress and achieve sustained success in the coming years?
she's got an amazing game, but that second serve just won't quit 
. I mean, 9.9% double faults is crazy! 
It's like she's trying to give her opponent free points or something 
. But honestly, I think the new coach Gavin MacMillan has made a great move in tweaking her technique. The knee bend and head movement thing is so important for a good serve. And it's not just about the serve, Gauff's athleticism and defense are top-notch 
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. It's like she's saying, "Okay, I've been here before, but this time I'm gonna do it differently." And you know what? I think it can pay off big time if she just focuses on that second serve 
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. It's not rocket science, Coco just needs to find consistency 
. So here's hoping Gauff can build on this progress and become almost unbeatable 
. Fingers crossed! 
9.9% double faults is insane! i remember watching her play and just thinking "how does she do that?" 
anyway, i think new coach gavin macmillan might be the key to unlocking her potential 
as for whether it'll translate to long-term benefits, only time will tell 
but if anyone can turn it around, it's coco 
Coco Gauff's game is looking so strong, especially her defense skills & athleticism 
, but that 2nd serve is still killing her 
... like, 9.9% double faults, that's crazy 
! I think new coach Gavin MacMillan is making progress with those tweaks tho 
, it'll be interesting to see if they stick & pay off in the long run 
, so I'm rooting for her to figure this out & become even more dominant on the court 
. The WTA Finals are a big stage, but if she can keep up that momentum & work on that serve, watch out! 
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. Her 9.9% double-fault rate is crazy high! 
Did you know that only 2.4% of top-50 players have a higher double-fault rate? 
That's gotta hurt her confidence 
. We've seen it before - players make adjustments, get a little boost, and then regress 
. But Gauff's got the potential to be a superstar 
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! Gauff needs to bring her A-game if she wants to dominate like these top players 
She's got a ton of potential, but that one weakness can make all the difference between winning and losing. I mean, think about it, if she can iron out that double fault issue, watch out world! 
But at the same time, it's not like she's alone in this fight. Everyone struggles with something, even the best players.
The only way for her to reach her full potential is if she can get that 2nd serve under control 
. Fingers crossed for her at the WTA Finals! 
. If Gauff can pull off something similar, watch out world! 
The WTA Finals are the perfect stage for her to put her newfound confidence to the test. I'm rooting for her to overcome that second serve hurdle and become UNSTOPPABLE 
Second serve percentage: 55.1% (Gauff) 
. I feel for her, she's such a talented player, but that second serve is just killing her 
. I love how she's trying new things with her coach though, that's super refreshing 
. Sabalenka's comeback is a great example - if Gauff can overcome this 2nd serve hurdle, watch out! She's got the game to dominate.
! Can't we just talk about tennis or something instead of analyzing players' serves all day? And another thing, why do we have to choose between watching the WTA Finals and reading a 5-paragraph article that's just a summary of someone else's analysis? 
I'm trying to figure out if Coco Gauff is going to be able to overcome her serve issues or not, but it feels like I've got to sift through all this extra info first. Can't we just cut to the chase already? 
. It's crazy how much of an impact it has on the whole match.
. And that two-handed backhand? 
She's got all the skills, athleticism & game but that one weak spot is gonna hold her back 
From what I saw of her practice sessions, she's still a bit wonky with her knee bend & head movement 
Hopefully new coach Gavin MacMillan can get it sorted ASAP