ROME — American tennis star Coco Gauff, currently ranked world number three, has experienced a challenging time with her serve at the Italian Open, committing 35 double faults across three matches. Despite these struggles, Gauff remains optimistic, attributing the high fault count to ongoing technical changes in her serve that she believes will improve with time.
A powerful serve is a critical asset in tennis, yet Gauff, the reigning U.S. Open champion, has faced difficulties during the clay court season. She has averaged nearly 10 double faults per match over her five clay court matches leading up to Rome. This pattern continued on Monday, where Gauff registered 11 double faults in her 5-7, 6-4, 6-1 victory against Paula Badosa, advancing to the quarter-finals.
“I’m going big on the first serve, so I know I’m probably going to miss more,” Gauff explained after her match. “It’s just finding the balance of going big but also knowing when to slow down just to get the serve in.” The 2022 Roland Garros runner-up is focused on long-term improvements with the French Open on the horizon, set to begin on May 26.
Gauff’s approach involves maintaining the power of her serve while striving for consistency. “I bet on myself to continue to go big. I know when I go big and my serve goes in, it’s dangerous. Even though this tournament I want to win, I’m trying to think long-term. I don’t want to lose the 120 mph serve by not going for it,” she stated.
Her situation is reminiscent of world number two Aryna Sabalenka, who also struggled with her serve in past seasons. Sabalenka overcame these issues by working with a biomechanics trainer, transforming her serve into a formidable weapon that helped her secure two Australian Open titles.
Gauff, under the guidance of coaches Brad Gilbert and Jean-Christophe Faurel, is making similar technical adjustments. “It’s tough to do in-season and in-tournament,” she admitted. “I feel from the night before my last match to now, it’s better. It’s only been two days. I’m trying.”
As Gauff continues to refine her serve, her progress at the Italian Open serves as a testament to her determination and long-term vision. With the French Open approaching, the young American remains focused on balancing power and precision in her serve, aiming to turn this challenge into a strength.
