Coco Gauff, a prominent figure on the WTA Tour, has faced criticism about her serve from former American player Alexandra Stevenson. Stevenson, who reached 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; Gauff’s serve and forehand have been under scrutiny since she turned pro in 2018.
Recently, Gauff enlisted biomechanics expert Gavin MacMillan to address her serve issues. MacMillan, who previously worked with reigning WTA No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka to positive effect, has yet to produce noticeable improvements for Gauff on the court. Stevenson attributes Gauff’s serve problems to technical flaws in her motion and criticizes her coaches for prioritizing forehand correction over serve development. She argues that a reliable serve is essential for a potent forehand and notes that many players on the WTA Tour struggle with their serves, often leading to losses.
To illustrate her point, Stevenson cites Elena Rybakina, who won the 2025 WTA Finals by exploiting opponents’ serve weaknesses. She emphasizes that the serve is a fundamental aspect of tennis that is frequently neglected in women’s coaching, whereas men’s players tend to prioritize their serves, resulting in fewer meltdowns on court.
Gauff’s father, Corey, has acknowledged his daughter’s serve weakness. Responding to a tennis‑site post highlighting Gauff’s high number of double faults in the 2025 season, he said 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 broader emphasis on its importance in women’s tennis underscore a systemic 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 improvement, her progress in 2026 will be closely watched.
Comments are closed for this story.