Part Of Coco Gauff's Game 'Fails Under Pressure' And 'Always Going To Be A Problem'
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Coco Gauff's game has been evaluated honestly by Serena Williams' former coach Rennae Stubbs, who pointed to an area that repeatedly lets her down.
Gauff's achievements prove that there is more right than wrong with her game. She is currently the world no. 3 and won the 2023 US Open and 2024 WTA Finals before turning 21 earlier this month.
However, Gauff's chances of becoming the world's No. 1 would improve if she fixed some weaker areas. Some elements lag behind her incredible backhand, athleticism, and net play.
In an episode of her podcast, Stubbs said that Gauff's technique on her forehand and second serve struggles in pivotal moments, especially when competing in outdoor conditions, when there are more variables to consider.
"Her technique fails under pressure and when you’re playing outside – a lot of her success last year and even at the beginning of this year was played indoors – there’s no wind or variables."
"When you have a technique that is questionable at times, whether it be the second serve and the service motion, and the service grip, all that sort of stuff, and the forehand, it affects your game more."
The Australian thinks improving the forehand and serve(especially the second serve) will be a continuous process for many years. She especially feels that way about her forehand, which Stubbs argues is particularly problematic.
"Her technique on her forehand is always going to be a problem for her going forehand. So it’s a matter of can she get over those humps. Can she get through the tough three-set match, which she didn’t last week?"
"She is going to have unbelievable support in Miami. And maybe this is the breakthrough she needs going into the clay, which we know she plays well on. It is a work in progress. It is going to be a work in progress with the serve and her forehand for the rest of her career. And when she loses that is why she is going to lose, that’s why we always talk about it."
Gauff struggled with her second serve and forehand throughout the 2025 Indian Wells Open. She won two matches in California, but that was despite those issues. Battling through those problems to get wins is something she has gotten used to.
That is why Gauff does not triumph by one-sided scores as often as her rivals Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka. However, the opening round of the ongoing 2025 Miami Open was a notable exception.
Gauff crushed the 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin without dropping a game. Every part of the 21-year-old's game flowed during that match, but that does not mean her serving and forehand issues are fixed.
As Stubbs indicated, those weaknesses(in relative terms for someone as good as Gauff) will be something she keeps working on. The American seemed to have progressed before suffering a dip after the 2025 Australian Open.
Matt Daly positively impacted Gauff's game when he replaced Brad Gilbert after the 2024 US Open. She won the 2024 China Open and WTA Finals, and her forehand, in particular, was much better in that period.
