Coco Gauff’s serving struggles came to the fore once again as she fell to a three-set defeat to Jessica Pegula in the WTA Finals.
The American star served 17 double faults and hit a total of 75 unforced errors during her 3-6, 7-6, 2-6 loss to Pegula.
Gauff had struggled with her serve during the North American hard-court swing, and she subsequently enlisted the help of Gavin MacMillan – a biomechanics coach who helped Aryna Sabalenka overcome her serving woes.
The 21-year-old seemed to have her serve under control, having not served double-digit double faults since the US Open.
The return of Gauff’s serving issues is most certainly a concern. However, American tennis coach Rick Macci has taken a more positive view on the matter.
Rick Macci says: ‘This is the best I have seen Coco and the serve’
Rick Macci, the former coach of Andy Roddick and Maria Sharapova, has weighed in on the development of Gauff’s serve following her struggles against Pegula on Sunday.
Despite Gauff’s struggles against Pegula, Macci remains positive about her first serve and believes the amount of double faults being recorded will reduce.
In a series of posts on X [Twitter], Macci said: “Unreal improvement in Coco and the first serve. Mentally now she can pull the trigger and go bigger. Left arm is in the optimal position on the right side of the face now her left side is more stable and can deliver a 125 mph ace.
“Coco is playing the long game. Under pressure, the Delray Dart is learning by uncorking the first serve instead of rolling it in like the past as a band-aid.
“She is going big 24/7 and will get more free lunches in bunches. Her technique and mentally on the first serve is night and day.”
“This is the best I have seen Coco and the serve. Major technical modifications and courage like never before.
“The doubles [double faults] will slowly go down, and because of her genetics, 10 aces a match she can pound. 130 mph is down the street, and she will be even tougher to beat.”
Gauff will hope to bounce back in her next WTA Finals match. She faces Jasmine Paolini, who lost in straight sets to world number one Aryna Sabalenka on Sunday.
Gauff and Paolini have a 3-3 head-to-head record. Gauff won 6-4, 6-3 in their last contest at the Wuhan Open.
Having won the 2024 WTA Finals, Gauff is defending 1,300 points in Riyadh. Following her loss to Pegula, Gauff will have to win all of her remaining matches to defend those points.
Jessica Pegula told how she can take her game to ‘another level’
Macci has also commented on Jessica Pegula’s play, claiming that the American should use her slice more often.
Macci said: “Pegula can go to another level if she would [use] her slice more and make others hit up then she can use some of the best ball striking on the tour to win even more.”
Pegula faces Aryna Sabalenka next, who has secured the year-end world number one position for a second consecutive year.
After playing Sabalenka, Pegula will face Jasmine Paolini in her final round-robin match.
