Following her Australian Open exit, Coco Gauff has been advised by 7-time Grand Slam Champion Mats Wilander to seek more help from Andy Roddick to tune her serving.
In what was a rematch of their 2023 US Open final, Gauff was defeated by Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets 7-6(2), 6-4 on Rod Laver Arena. The 19-year-old lacked a strong serving display as she made staggering eight double faults and could land only 57% of her first serves with a winning rate of 65%. The second serve was even disappointing with a win rate dropped to 39%.
Before the start of Australian Open, the World No. 3’s coach Brad Gilbert divulged that her charge had spent time with Roddick on the courts during off-season and the youngster herself recognized that the two days of practice with Roddick was fruitful.
“I just adjusted the way that I tossed the ball up a little bit, which allowed my toss to be more consistent,” she said. “Then I just felt that the more consistent my serve is, the more I’m ok with going for it in those big moments.
“I still know I can improve on it, but I’m really happy with the progress that I’ve made in the short amount of time.”
However, after her poor performance against the defending Australian Open Champion, Sabalenka, Wilander suggested the 19-year-old to extend her pairing with Roddick who is rated among the greatest servers of all time.
“[I’d advise Coco to] spend more time with Andy Roddick to get her serve in shape, ” he said on Eurosport.
“We know she’s serving harder and the first serve is better, even though her percentage was 50%, which is not enough.
“She needs to get her right elbow up a bit; she seems to fall down a bit too much. Toss straighter up. That’s what Andy Roddick was famous for. That’s going to solve so many problems when she has a consistent second serve.
“It’s going to make her first serve better and it’ll make her feel like she doesn’t have to go for aces all the time either.”
Former World No. 4, Tim Henman on Eurosport also assessed the serving struggles of Coco Gauff but predicted it will be very difficult to deal with her game once she settles her second serve.
“I think Gauff served eight double faults but for me, the lack of direction of second serve from Coco Gauff and Sabalenka was able to return so aggressively,” he said.
“She served into the middle of the box to give herself margin for error and she only won 39% of second serve points. You feel threatened on your second serve all the time and your opponent can really dictate. There was a lot of focus on her erratic forehand but now she needs to look at her second serve. If she addresses it, she will be really tough to beat.”