The 2023 Australian Open wasn't a tournament to remember for 18-year-old Coco Gauff, but she can remember at least how well she did in terms of serve stats.
The young American reached the fourth round and also did quite well in terms of the serving stats, hitting the fastest serve recorded at a whopping 195 kph (121 mph). This impressive feat tied her with the event runner-up Elena Rybakina, who hit the same speed in three more matches. Third place in the serving stats went to Liudmila Samsonova with 193 kph (120 mph).
Gauff's success on the serve was not limited to just her speed, as she also ranked 8th in terms of aces hit with 17 in four matches. However, it was Rybakina who truly dominated in this category, hitting a tournament-high 54 aces in seven matches. Aryna Sabalenka followed closely behind with 46 aces in the same amount of matches.
Gauff's performance at the Australian Open is just the latest in a string of impressive results for the young American. She first rose to fame in 2019 when she became the youngest player to qualify for the Wimbledon main draw in the Open Era and made it to the fourth round. Since then, she has reached the second week of a Grand Slam on seven occasions.
Her speed and accuracy on the serve is impressive, and it's a big part of her game. Her ability to hit aces and service winners consistently was an important factor in her previous success, which was rewarded with the 2023 ASB Classic triumph. Her serve is not just a weapon, but also a tool to gain free points and control the rallies.