Ahead of the US Open this season, World No.3 Coco Gauff chose to make a crucial shift in her team. To fix her serving woes, the two-time slam winner parted ways with former coach Matt Daly, replacing him with biomechanics specialist Gavin MacMilan. The latter was previously associated with World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka and helped her solve the double-fault problem. Similarly, Gauff expected the same results for herself. But it seems the American needs to focus her attention on another aspect of her game, according to a former tennis icon and Olympic gold medalist.

During an episode of the ‘Hardcourt’ podcast on October 1, ex-Russian WTA star Elena Dementieva expressed her honest thoughts on Gauff’s latest coaching hire. Revealing what Gauff should actually focus on improving, Dementieva began, “I’m surprised that she chose a serving specialist, because in my point of view, it would be a good idea for her to somehow reconsider her forehand,” Highlighting an inevitable flaw in Gauff’s style of play, she added, “She is, of course, very well physically developed, but there is a one-handed game going on there.”

“Right now, she’s just saving herself with her good physical shape, but there are some significant areas that can be corrected.” Talking about the aspect of double faults, the former WTA star mentioned that’s not a big issue at all. “I’m surprised, because you know she says she makes a huge amount of double faults, but it doesn’t stand out in the game.”

Explaining her point, Dementieva noted, “You know, she wins Grand Slams with them (double faults) and when she makes them, is it a psychological problem or a physical one. I can’t say that I associate it with the technique.” Before adding MacMilan to her team, Gauff was committing a lot of double faults on her serves this season. For example, at the Indian Wells, the count was 38 while it increased to 42 at the Italian Open in May.

The inevitable issue remained visible even at the Roland Garros, in June. But despite that, the 21-year-0ld American went on to win that slam. That time, she was working with Matt Daly. In fact, throughout the clay season, the Gauff kept her double-fault number in check, and that led her to win her second Grand Slam at Roland Garros. But then, she struggled with her serve during the grass and hard-court swings.

Despite having a new coach in MacMilan, the double fault situation has more or less remained unchanged. One can understand that by looking at the stats from her last two campaigns with him so far. At the US Open, her double fault count was 27 in four matches. Gauff’s recent outing at the China Open saw her taking this number to 31 in five matches.

Coco Gauff’s serving woes continued in Beijing

On Saturday, Coco Gauff was expected to make it to her second straight China Open summit clash. However, two-time slam finalist Amanda Anisimova had other plans. She was ruthless against Gauff and ultimately, she registered a scintillating win in just 58 minutes.

With a score line of 6-1, 6-2, Anisimova made her way into her maiden China Open final. Moreover, against Anisimova, Gauff was able to land 64% of her first serves, but won just 11 of the 28 points. On the other hand, the tw0-time Grand Slam champion’s second serve became an uphill battle for her. And, in the semi-final battle against Anisimova, Gauff won only 38% of her second serve points as she committed 5 double faults. Gauff struggled to make a comeback in either of the two sets.

However, Gauff now shifts her focus to another campaign  this month. At the Wuhan Open, she will try to regain the lost spirits. Last season, she did manage to reach the semis of the WTA 1000 event in Wuhan. The former World No.2 will look to do one better this time and clinch the trophy. Doing so may also give her a morale boost ahead of next month’s WTA Finals in Riyadh. Gauff will enter that tournament as a defending champion.