Coco Gauff, a prominent figure on the WTA Tour, has faced criticism regarding her serve from former American player Alexandra Stevenson. Stevenson, who achieved a career-high singles ranking of World No. 18, believes that most WTA players, including Gauff, lack a reliable serve. This concern is not new, as Gauff’s serve and forehand have been under scrutiny since she turned pro in 2018.
Recently, Gauff enlisted the help of biomechanics expert Gavin MacMillan to address her serve issues. MacMillan has previously worked with reigning WTA No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, yielding positive results. However, his collaboration with Gauff has yet to yield significant improvements on the court.
Stevenson attributes Gauff’s serve issues to technical problems within her motion. She also criticizes Gauff’s coaches for prioritizing the correction of her forehand technique over her serve. According to Stevenson, this approach is flawed, as a reliable serve is essential for a potent forehand. She notes that most players on the WTA Tour struggle with their serves, which can lead to losses.
To illustrate her point, Stevenson cites the example of Elena Rybakina, who won the 2025 WTA Finals by capitalizing on her opponents’ serve weaknesses. Stevenson emphasizes that the serve is a fundamental aspect of tennis, often neglected in women’s coaching. In contrast, men’s tennis players tend to prioritize their serves, resulting in fewer meltdowns on the court.
Gauff’s father, Corey, has acknowledged his daughter’s serve weakness. He commented on a tennis page’s post highlighting Gauff’s high number of double faults in the 2025 season, stating that she will work to improve her serve in 2026. Gauff’s 2025 season ended with a title win at the WTA 1000 Wuhan Open, but she exited the WTA Finals earlier than expected.
The criticism of Gauff’s serve and the emphasis on its importance in women’s tennis highlight a broader issue on the WTA Tour. As players like Rybakina demonstrate the significance of a strong serve, others, including Gauff, will need to address their serve weaknesses to remain competitive. With Gauff’s commitment to improving her game, her progress in 2026 will be closely watched.