Coco Gauff Insists her Serving Issues are Improving Despite Disappointing Defeat at the China Open

Coco Gauff is projected to face Wang Xinyu in the second round of the Wuhan Open after receiving a first-round bye.

Coco Gauff Insists her Serving Issues are Improving Despite Disappointing Defeat at the China Open

Coco Gauff at the Canadian Open draw ceremony (image via Jimmie48 Photography)

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Coco Gauff has revealed that her serving issues are improving despite her failure to reach the final of the China Open. The American star’s serving problems have dominated the news since the North American hard-court swing after she parted ways with Matt Daly and hired Aryna Sabalenka’s former biomechanics expert Gavin MacMillan.

Gauff’s serving problems had always been a major struggle in her game since turning pro, but she had often used other aspects of her style of play to overshadow it. Also, she has kept an incredible record on tour, including winning two Grand Slams. But at the Canadian Open, she hit 23 double faults and 74 unforced errors during her opening match against Danielle Collins.

Gauff found a way to win the match, despite the errors. In her round of 16 match, it continued as she hit 14 double faults against Veronika Kudermetova. It was against Victoria Mboko that she was punished for her faults in just an hour and two minutes. However, since hiring MacMillan there has been some level of improvement, but it’s yet to be significant.

The World No.3 crashed out of the US Open in the round of 16 after losing to Naomi Osaka in straight sets. She was seeking to defend her China Open title last week but she fell to Amanda Anisimova in straight sets in the semi-final. She won just 38 percent of her first-serve points during the 2-6, 1-6 loss against Anisimova.

Ahead of her opening match at the Wuhan Open, she sat down with Tennis365 for an interview. She revealed that overall her serves have been getting better on the court, particularly during the just concluded China Open. Gauff added that despite the improvements she hasn’t reached her best level yet:

Yes, there were moments I could serve better, but overall, I don’t feel like it was like a crutch for me. And then in the last match, I mean, she was returning well; the percentage of first serve points there was really low, but I mean, I hit like a 200hm serve, and she was hitting the ball back way faster. I try not to use the last match as like my overall memory of the tournament. But there were moments that it got me out of a lot of trouble as well.

Gauff will open her account at the Wuhan Open in the second round after earning a first-round bye. She’s projected to play Wang Xinyu in the second round before a potential all-American third round clash against Emma Navarro. If she reaches the quarter-finals, she’s projected to face Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva.

Coco Gauff admits she has changed her mindset for the remainder of the year after China Open run

Coco Gauff began the season poorly but got better as the year went by. She reached her peak during the clay season, where she got to three consecutive finals, losing the Madrid and Italian Open, before coming from a set down to win the French Open against World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka. She’s seeking for second title at the Wuhan Open.

Coco Gauff
Coco Gauff (Image via X/Coco Gauff Fans)

Gauff revealed ahead of the Beijing Open that she’s not aiming to defend the title, but after reaching the semi-finals, she has changed her mind. She revealed during the aforementioned interview that she hopes to defend the WTA Finals, which comes up in November:

Obviously I think last week went well, but I feel like this part of the year, historically, I’ve always looked at it like that. I had good results last year and remember saying the same thing, and then I won Beijing and then WTA Finals. So yeah, I’m going to try to just keep that same mindset and prepare and get better for next year. But obviously, I’m a competitor, so I’m still wanting to win.

Gauff has already qualified for the WTA Finals in Riyadh, along with Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, Madison Keys, and Amanda Anisimova. The American defeated Qinwen Zheng in the final of the tournament last year, coming from a set down.

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