Coco Gauff’s ascension toward stardom is somehow exposing the major chinks in her armor. At first, it was her inconsistent forehand that bore the brunt of top coaches and analysts’ criticism, but now a new and more costly weakness is coming to the fore – her second serve. It has been a major talking point amongst top tennis voices since the end of last season.

Although not as disappointing as it was at the Indian Wells, Gauff’s weak second serve still found space in Serena Williams’ ex-coach, Rennae Stubbs’s recap of the Miami Open.

‘Coco’s got to figure out something with the second serve’ – Rennae Stubbs

Talking with Andrea Petkovic on her podcast, titled – Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast, the Australian urges to move past Gauff’s ever-lasting weak forehand and focus on a more glaring problem, her second serve, “I just don’t know what’s going to happen anymore, is she going to double fault ten times a match and that’s giving away two or three games on your serve.”

Gauff’s second serve did improve a lot coming into the Miami Open but her serve still broke too many times and the three double faults cost her crucial points. As many would agree even three double faults at the top level, especially for a player of Gauff’s caliber, is unacceptable. For Stubbs too, it poses a big problem.

“Coco’s got to figure out something with the second serve. Her motion is a disaster!” Says Serena Williams’ ex-coach. Ironically Gauff’s woeful second serve has previously been likened to Serena Williams’ sister Venus Williams. Although Gauff, just 20 years old, has reportedly been working on her serve.

Talking to the media in her post-match presser after being defeated by a lower-ranked Caroline Garcia in front of her home crowd, Gauff looked at her performance, especially her second serve in a positive light.

‘I do think one positive is the serve’ – Coco Gauff

Speaking in her post-match presser Gauff smiled but the pain of being defeated by Garcia for the third time was evident, “This is a tough loss,’’ Gauff said. “I do think one positive is the serve. I got broken a lot today. I don’t think it was because of my serving. “

Comparing her second serve to her disastrous second serve at the Indian Wells, the American sweetheart believes there were positive takeaways in that sector, “I went from hitting 17 double faults in Indian Wells (in the quarterfinals) to only three today. So that’s something that can continue to improve, and it did in a short amount of time.”

Only 20, Gauff has a long career ahead, with time and all the resources in the world in her hand to fix her technique before it becomes a habit. For now, the Roland Garros runner-up has her eyes set on the clay court season where her athleticism will definitely pay dividends.

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