Martina Navratilova warns Coco Gauff of her biggest handicap suggesting the solution ahead of the 2024 season

Gauff won the first Grand Slam of her career in the 2023 US Open.

Martina Navratilova warns Coco Gauff of her biggest handicap suggesting the solution ahead of the 2024 season

Martina Navratilova (L), Coco Gauff (R) (Source: Sky Sports)

Coco Gauff had a sensational season in 2023. The 19-year-old won the first Grand Slam of her career last year in the US Open and can now be deemed to be one of the top 3 players in the world.

However, tennis legend Martina Navratilova has pointed out that there are some flaws, or rather, weaknesses, in her current style of play that need to be improved for her to compete in all the Grand Slam titles in the 2024 season. 

The main point that Navratilova focuses on is Gauff’s forehand, which has been an area of concern for a long time. While her backhand is immaculate, Gauff’s forehand seems to be her weaker, or at least less consistent, side.

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The 18-time singles Grand Slam winner pointed out that Gauff has an extreme Western grip which ultimately led to the issues. Thus, she was interested to see what change coach Brad Gilbert will make in her forehand, ahead of the upcoming season. 

The next step for Coco? What happens with the forehand? Will she start hitting more forehands down the line or rolling it crosscourt? Late in the season, I noticed she was hitting those loopy forehands more often. I really look forward to what [coach] Brad [Gilbert] tries to do -- if he tries to change the forehand and her extreme western grip. Because when she was trying to hit low balls with her [existing grip] the ball sometimes was bouncing before it got to the net.
Martina Navratilova (H/T: WTA Tennis)

The former Czech-American tennis player has also predicted that the improvements that Coco Gauff has already brought to her game will already lead to better results. The youngster now has a great drop shot and these changes, according to Navratilova, will make her a favorite in the 2023 Wimbledon. 

Martina Navratilova suggests Coco Gauff change her grip 

Navratilova has also opined that Gauff’s current grip is limiting in many ways, as it restricts her from getting under very low balls. She said the 19-year-old either made to change her grip or learn to re-grip and use a slightly different stroke. 

Martina Navratilova (L), Coco Gauff (R)
Martina Navratilova (L), Coco Gauff (R) (Sources: ABP Live, Wikipedia)
I think that’s where the grip is so limiting -- it’s physically impossible to get under the ball when it's that low with that grip. Change it to make it a little bit easier to hit those low balls -- or maybe she just learns to re-grip and use a slightly different stroke. One of those two things has to happen because it’s just too much of a handicap -- she misses too many balls when they’re really low. 

Coco Gauff has improved a lot as a player over the course of her career. However, she needs to rectify her flaws pointed out by the legend of the game and leave no page unturned in order to remain a top player. 

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