Coco Gauff, hailed as the heir to Serena Williams’ legacy, has electrified the tennis world with her talent, but her serve is drawing scrutiny from some of the sport’s most iconic coaches.
Rick Macci, who famously coached Venus and Serena Williams, recently broke down Gauff’s serve issues, offering a technical critique of what he sees as her Achilles’ heel. According to Macci, Gauff’s right foot positioning is a critical flaw.
“The weight should be behind the right hip, but it’s on the right groin. She can’t load her body properly,” he explained, pointing out that this positioning compromises her power and accuracy. Macci even suggested a full overhaul, advising Gauff to adopt a platform stance rather than her current pinpoint stance.
The 20-year-old’s serving struggles were glaring during her US Open title defense, where she fell in the fourth round to Emma Navarro. Gauff managed just 46% of her first serves and committed 19 double faults in the match, bringing her total to 38 double faults over the tournament-a staggering figure for a top-tier player.
Stubbs’ advice to Gauff
Rennae Stubbs, another tennis coaching legend and former coach of Serena Williams, echoed concerns about Gauff’s serve, particularly as she prepares for the Australian Open. Stubbs highlighted the transition from indoor to outdoor play as a crucial test.
“A consistent kick serve would be huge for her. If she’s double-faulting, she’s hurting herself,” Stubbs noted on her podcast. Despite these criticisms, Stubbs remains optimistic about Gauff’s prospects. “Her forehand is improving, and if she can fix her serve, she’s a real threat at the Australian Open,” she said.
Coco has not unleashed her full potential
Gauff ended the year ranked WTA world number three, boasting hard-court titles in Auckland, Beijing, and Riyadh. With an undefeated record in hard-court finals (8-0), she’s poised to challenge Aryna Sabalenka for dominance on the surface.
But as her coaches warn, refining her serve may be the key to unlocking her full potential. Fans are now eagerly watching to see if Gauff can rise to the challenge and cement her legacy.
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