Coco Gauff's issues with her serve have been consistent throughout 2024, but Serena Williams' former coach thinks they could be quickly fixed.
Gauff parted ways with her coach, Brad Gilbert, after a challenging period since the start of the grass-court season. The experienced Gilbert, who worked with players such as Andre Agassi, did not seem to know how to help her.
The 20-year-old hired Matt Daly as her coach, and the impact was immediate. Gauff won her second WTA-1000 title at the China Open, overcoming Karolina Muchova in the final after an exceptional performance.
Although they are in the very early stages of their partnership, Gauff's forehand at the China Open and the Wuhan Open was the best it has been all season, with last year's US Open champion dictating more rallies off that wing.
Hitting several double faults during matches is an issue that Gauff has attempted to address throughout 2024. She mostly avoided that problem at the China Open and in her opening three matches in Wuhan.
Unfortunately for Gauff, problems on her second serve came to back haunt her in the Wuhan Open semifinal against Aryna Sabalenka. She struck 21 double faults during the match, the most by a player in a main draw contest in 2024.
Incredibly, Gauff still came close to winning the match, only narrowly losing 1-6, 6-4, 6-4. The opening set was a contender for the best set the 2022 French Open runner-up has played during her career.
Gauff's superb level in all other parts of her game in the last two weeks means there is much to be optimistic about, but she is undoubtedly frustrated that one specific element is repeatedly causing problems.
There have been many debates about how to fix Gauff's serve. Rennae Stubbs, who also used to coach Serena Williams, memorably criticized the American's technique at the US Open while her then-coach, Gilbert, stood beside her.
Award-winning coach Rick Macci, who coached Serena and Venus Williams, believes a science-based approach is needed, and the results could be almost instant if Gauff goes down that route.
"Coco and her second serve can be fixed in less than 1 hour. Once that is biomechanically rewired and that is in the eye of the beholder the mental game overall becomes bolder."
Macci's advice certainly should not be dismissed. He has also worked with Andy Roddick and Maria Sharapova and was the youngest coach inducted into the USPTA Hall of Fame.
Some coaches use technology and science more than others. For example, her former coach, Gilbert, was open about not concerning himself with those factors and preferred to rely on his judgment.
Macci feels a different approach would suit Gauff better. His claim that the China Open champion's serving issues could be fixed in less than an hour is bold, but the 69-year-old possesses the track record to back up his confidence.
It would be interesting to know whether Gauff's new coach has done any specific work on her serve. However, she understandably wanted to avoid questions since her opponents could take advantage of any particular details.
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