Coco Gauff's Serve Woes Persist Despite Coaching Change

In the past year, Coco Gauff has experienced both great success and persistent challenges with her serve. The 21-year-old American won her second Grand Slam title at the French Open in June 2022, defeating world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka. This victory demonstrated Gauff's ability to compete at the highest level.

However, the past five months have been some of the most challenging of Gauff's career, largely due to issues with her second serve. According to Tennis Abstract, Gauff's double fault rate, the percentage of service points that end in a double fault, is the worst among the top 50 players this year at 9.9%. This is significantly higher than the next worst performer in the top 10, Amanda Anisimova, who has a double fault rate of 6.2%.

Recognizing the need for improvement, Gauff made a drastic coaching change just days before the US Open, hiring tennis biomechanics expert Gavin MacMillan. They immediately worked to address Gauff's "hitchy" service technique, particularly her knee bend and tendency to throw her head down. However, this change did not yield immediate results, as Gauff struggled at the US Open and was eliminated in the fourth round.

Gauff's serving woes continued at the recent WTA Finals in Riyadh, where she hit three consecutive double faults in a crucial moment against compatriot Jessica Pegula. This sequence perfectly encapsulated Gauff's ongoing struggles with her second serve, which have prevented her from building on the momentum of her French Open triumph.

Despite these challenges, Gauff remains one of the rising stars of women's tennis. If she and her new coach can find a way to address the issues with her second serve, the future looks bright for the talented American.