Coco Gauff, hailed because the inheritor to Serena Williams’ legacy, has electrified the tennis world along with her expertise, however her serve is drawing scrutiny from a few of the sport’s most iconic coaches.
Rick Macci, who famously coached Venus and Serena Williams, not too long ago broke down Gauff’s serve points, providing a technical critique of what he sees as her Achilles’ heel. In keeping with Macci, Gauff’s proper foot positioning is a vital flaw.
“The load needs to be behind the precise hip, however it’s on the precise groin. She will be able to’t load her physique correctly,” he defined, stating that this positioning compromises her energy and accuracy. Macci even prompt a full overhaul, advising Gauff to undertake a platform stance somewhat than her present pinpoint stance.
The 20-year-old’s serving struggles had been obvious throughout her US Open title protection, the place she fell within the fourth spherical to Emma Navarro. Gauff managed simply 46% of her first serves and dedicated 19 double faults within the match, bringing her complete to 38 double faults over the tournament-a staggering determine for a top-tier participant.
Stubbs’ recommendation to Gauff
Rennae Stubbs, one other tennis teaching legend and former coach of Serena Williams, echoed issues about Gauff’s serve, notably as she prepares for the Australian Open. Stubbs highlighted the transition from indoor to outside play as an important take a look at.
“A constant kick serve could be enormous for her. If she’s double-faulting, she’s hurting herself,” Stubbs famous on her podcast. Regardless of these criticisms, Stubbs stays optimistic about Gauff’s prospects. “Her forehand is bettering, and if she will be able to repair her serve, she’s an actual menace on the Australian Open,” she mentioned.
Coco has not unleashed her full potential
Gauff ended the 12 months ranked WTA world quantity three, boasting hard-court titles in Auckland, Beijing, and Riyadh. With an undefeated document in hard-court finals (8-0), she’s poised to problem Aryna Sabalenka for dominance on the floor.
However as her coaches warn, refining her serve would be the key to unlocking her full potential. Followers at the moment are eagerly watching to see if Gauff can rise to the problem and cement her legacy.
