Coco Gauff is into the Miami Open final, and if anyone has deserved a run like this, it’s her.
After all, the 22-year-old has had to suffer through so many issues lately that have plagued her promising game.
Despite being a two-time Grand Slam champion, Gauff has been plagued with issues to her serve and forehand, which have seen her threat on the WTA Tour diminish massively.
Fortunately, those issues do seem to be on the way out, having soared into the final of this WTA 1000 event.
She has now discussed what it took to solve these serving struggles, and admitted that she and her team are far from finished working on them yet.
Coco Gauff explains how she changed her serve
Discussing this overwhelming topic, which has dominated discussions for nearly a year now, Coco Gauff admitted: “We did use a lot of video in realising where things happen. I feel like I’m still in that process. I feel like I do it now right more than I do wrong, but I think it’s trying to remind myself in the pressure moments.
“I think this week was better with the serve for sure, there were a lot less double faults than before, and I held a lot of games today and in my previous matches too.
Who wins the Miami Open final?
“I think the hardest part is not faltering back to something you have done for six or seven years, or probably my whole life and not go back to old habits which is really hard.
“At the end of the day, you practice so when you step on court you don’t have to think, but with the way our sport is, we don’t have a lot of off time, you have to actively think.
“I definitely think that I am thinking a lot less than before, so I think once I get to the point where all I have to worry about is just hitting my spot, I will get there.”
The American then touched on her other shots, and whether they need work too: “And with my forehand, I feel like I am getting there. I don’t think about it too much on the court. I think I am just hitting it where I want to hit it.
“Luckily, my backhand has always been technically sound, so I don’t recall having to change it too much in my life.”
Coco Gauff reunites her rivalry with Aryna Sabalenka
There may be a huge gulf between Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka in the world rankings, but this is a match-up that clearly irks the Belarusian, despite boasting far superior ball-striking, power and serving.
After all, this is no better exemplified by the fact that the American won both of her Grand Slam titles by beating Sabalenka in the final.
Is Aryna Sabalenka vs Elena Rybakina the best rivalry in women’s tennis right now?
If not, who is?
Their head-to-head is currently tied at six wins apiece, highlighting the finely-balanced nature of this rivalry.
Someone will take a slender lead this weekend, and in doing so will capture the Miami Open title as well.
