Coco Gauff knows the spotlight better than most her age. At 21, she lit up New York by winning her first Grand Slam at the US Open, sparking comparisons to Serena Williams, and months later, she added a French Open title to her growing legacy. But tennis is relentless; it demands more than moments of brilliance, it craves consistency. However, right now, Gauff’s serve remains her most scrutinized weapon, the one technical flaw that continues to test her. And as she gears up for her China Open campaign, Serena Williams’ former coach Rick Macci predicts a major breakthrough in her biggest weakness.
Rick Macci recently turned heads with his latest insight on Coco Gauff, sharing a powerful post on X that has tennis fans buzzing. In his words, “The remainder of the year will give us a small sample size of Coco and the serve. I feel you will see less free presents and a first serve now and then at 125. Watch the Delray Dart flip the double fault script and a new built weapon she will rip.” For Macci, the message is clear: transformation is coming, and he believes Gauff’s serve will turn from liability to lethal weapon.
But for Coco, time is ticking. Her serve remains a massive thorn in her side, one that continues to put her under pressure. In Montreal, she double-faulted a staggering 23 times against Danielle Collins, nearly enough to hand away an entire set for free. The fact that she still won that match is a testament to her fighting spirit, but it also highlighted the urgency of fixing her most fundamental shot.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Even before the US Open, Gauff made a bold move, parting ways with coach Matt Daly and bringing in Gavin MacMillan. Far from a traditional coach, MacMillan is a sports biomechanics specialist, a man who treats technique like science and believes performance peaks only when mechanics are perfected. It was a statement of intent, a sign Gauff is willing to break things down and rebuild them if that’s what it takes.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
However, the US Open told a different story. Gauff struggled from the start, scraping past Ajla Tomljanovic in three sets before crashing out against Naomi Osaka in the fourth round. Osaka took full advantage of Gauff’s serving woes, punishing her with relentless aggression. The numbers were unforgiving: five double faults, just 52% of first-serve points won, compared to Osaka’s 94%. For a player with Gauff’s ambitions, those are the kinds of stats that stop title runs in their tracks.
Even, Rennae Stubbs, former coach of Serena Williams, didn’t hold back when addressing the issue on the Fudd Around And Find Out podcast. “Unfortunately for Coco, it’s a bit of a struggle right now,” Stubbs admitted, comparing her technique issue to a basketball player with a flawed shooting motion. She praised Gauff’s backhand as one of the greatest in the game but pointed out that her forehand and serve remain technical trouble spots that must be addressed.
Rick Macci, however, continues to be the voice of belief. He has long argued that Gauff’s serve can become her most fearsome weapon if retooled properly. “If she is reprogrammed with the more compact, explosive ATP forehand, the Delray Dart will be number one in the land,” Macci declared, leaving no doubt about the ceiling he sees for her game.
Now, as the year draws toward its close, all eyes are on Coco Gauff. Macci’s prediction paints a picture of a player on the brink of evolution: one who could turn her greatest weakness into her most devastating strength. If that transformation comes, the WTA Tour may be looking at its next undisputed force.
Steve Johnson says Coco Gauff’s serve struggles impact the entire game
Appearing on the Nothing Major Podcast, American tennis star Steve Johnson spoke with conviction about Coco Gauff’s struggles on serve and how they’ve rippled through the rest of her game. He explained that when a player battles inconsistency on serve, it puts an unbearable weight on everything else, forehand, backhand, movement, and sooner or later, that pressure cracks open into a full breakdown on court.
Yet Johnson didn’t leave it there. He struck an optimistic note, reminding fans that Gauff’s story is far from finished. “She’s going to figure it out. She won a slam this year, she’s still three in the world—lots of time left for her,” he said, a show of faith in the 2x Grand Slam winner’s ability to rewrite her narrative.
That hunger for progress is something Gauff herself has never shied away from. Asked ahead of the US Open whether her relentless drive to improve was natural or developed through experience, she didn’t hesitate. “No, I’ve always been like that,” she replied, her answer sharp and sure.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
“For me, I just wanna get better. I’m obsessed with the process of getting better,” Gauff admitted. That obsession, she said, can sometimes feel like a weight on her shoulders, but it also fuels her clarity and purpose.
Now, with the China Open just days away and the Asian Swing in full gear, the question is simple but massive: can Coco Gauff turn her serving woes into her biggest weapon before they cost her more ground?