Coco Gauff’s Serve Evolution: Navigating Through Doubles Faults
American tennis star Coco Gauff (20) is refining her serve technique, acknowledging the challenge of adjusting to technical changes amid a flurry of double faults at the Italian Open. Despite facing 35 double faults in three matches, the world number three remains optimistic, stressing the need for patience as she adapts to the modifications in her delivery.
While a powerful serve can be a game-changer in tennis, Gauff has encountered difficulties on the clay courts, averaging close to 10 double faults in her recent matches leading up to the Rome tournament. In her latest victory over Paula Badosa, Gauff recorded an additional 11 double faults. However, she remains confident that the adjustments she is making will yield positive results, with the French Open looming on the horizon.
Gauff has embraced a bold approach with her first serve, understanding that it may lead to more misses. Balancing the desire to hit big serves with the need for consistency is a key focus for the U.S. Open champion, who is determined to maintain the potency of her serve while refining her technique.
Taking inspiration from Aryna Sabalenka, who transformed her serve from a liability to a weapon with the help of a biomechanics trainer, Gauff revealed that she is also working on technical adjustments. Despite the challenges of implementing changes mid-season and within tournaments, she remains committed to the process, noting incremental improvements over a short period.
Coached by Brad Gilbert and Jean-Christophe Faurel, Gauff understands the difficulty of refining her serve technique on the fly but remains resolute in her pursuit of progress. While acknowledging that the adjustments may take time to fully integrate, she remains optimistic about the positive changes she has already observed in her game.