Coco Gauff, the World No. 4 on the WTA Tour, has recently come under scrutiny for her persistent serving difficulties, particularly her high number of double faults. These serve struggles were highlighted by former World No. 1 Belgian icon Kim Clijsters, who shared her insights into Gauff’s technical and mental challenges during matches such as the recent Dubai Tennis Championships. Gauff’s serve inconsistencies have been a recurring issue, as seen in her semifinal loss to Elina Svitolina, where she committed 12 double faults, and her early defeat at the WTA 1000 Qatar Open.
At the Qatar Open, Gauff faced an unexpected early exit in the round of 64 against former World No. 29 Elisabetta Cocciaretto. Prior to that, during the Dubai Tennis Championships, she showed strong form by defeating players ranked in the top 25, including Anna Kalinskaya, Elise Mertens, and the young Alexandra Eala. However, in the hard-fought semifinal clash against seventh seed Svitolina, Gauff’s serving woes became apparent. The match lasted over three hours, with Gauff losing in three sets, 6-4, 6-7 (13), 6-4.
Throughout the match, Gauff’s struggle with her serve manifested in multiple double faults, which visibly frustrated her, especially in her exchanges with biomechanics coach Gavin MacMillan, who has worked with her since last year. After committing a double fault in the second set, she expressed her frustration:
I’ve been doing everything you’ve wanted for the last 6 months.
Mental Pressure Plays Central Role in Gauff’s Serving Difficulties
Kim Clijsters, a Hall of Famer and winner of 41 WTA singles titles, including four singles majors, addressed Gauff’s double faults on her Love All podcast. Clijsters explained how widespread attention on Gauff’s serving errors creates additional mental pressure for her during matches. She said,
People and the media and commentators at times, too, like there’s so much focus on her serve right now that when she serves a double fault, everybody like, jumps on it right away. For her, mentally, you can only avoid it so much right, it is being looked at as a weakness and it is at times but she at times serves really good as well.
Clijsters further explored the psychological aspect of the issue, noting how mental factors influence Gauff’s serving performance. She remarked,
I’m very intrigued about the fact that why at times she, the double fault kind of build up. So, a lot of times it’s your mind, there’s that pressure of the score and everything but also to be ready for the next shot, to be ready for the return. The mental side of it, right, where the focus and you start to doubt, your shot more and more, and it becomes an obsession to try and fix it.
The former Belgian star also recalled comments from Gauff’s previous coach Brad Gilbert. He observed that after matches where Gauff had many double faults, she would often serve cleanly during subsequent practice sessions. This suggests that the problem lies less in technique and more in mental challenges during competitive play.
Overview of Gauff’s Recent Tournament Performances and Serve Issues
Gauff’s serving struggles have coincided with mixed results in recent top-tier tournaments. At the Dubai Tennis Championships, she demonstrated resilience by reaching the semifinals after defeating highly ranked opponents. Her match against Svitolina was intense and closely contested, highlighting both her competitive spirit and serving vulnerabilities. The long three-set battle reflected the physical and mental demands she continues to face at this stage of her career.
Moreover, her unexpected loss at the Qatar Open to Cocciaretto underscores that her serve remains an area requiring improvement. The pressure surrounding her serve errors, both internal and external, appears to affect her confidence and overall match execution, potentially influencing results in significant events.
Implications for Gauff’s Development and Future Competitions
Coco Gauff is still young and widely regarded as a rising star on the WTA Tour, with a powerful baseline game and athleticism. However, her serve struggles, intertwined with mental hurdles, represent a key area to address as she advances in her career. The insights shared by Kim Clijsters highlight the importance of balancing technical refinement with psychological resilience in high-pressure moments.
The spotlight on Gauff’s double faults reflects broader challenges athletes face in managing public expectations and self-confidence, especially when their game’s strength becomes perceived as a weakness. How Gauff and her coaching team, including Gavin MacMillan, adjust their strategies to overcome these mental obstacles will likely play a crucial role in her future success.
As Gauff continues to compete against top-level players, her ability to stabilize her serve and reduce double faults could shift perceptions and results in her favor. Monitoring her performance in upcoming tournaments will therefore be key to understanding how she evolves amid these serving and mental struggles.
