Coco Gauff Told to Rewire Her Forehand: The Weakest Link Holding Back Her 2026 Leap
American tennis sensation Coco Gauff has been urged by legendary coach Rick Macci—Serena Williams’ childhood mentor—to overhaul her forehand as her “weakest link,” warning that without a “science-based ATP blueprint” incorporating dual pronations and an outside-the-body racquet path, she risks stalling her progress before the 2026 season. Macci’s blunt advice, shared on X amid Gauff’s serving struggles, emphasizes rewiring the forehand to make it quicker and more aggressive, allowing her to “hold the baseline and dictate instead of defend.” This comes as Gauff, the two-time Grand Slam champion (2023 US Open, 2025 French Open) and defending WTA Finals winner, faces mounting pressure to evolve her game after a mixed Asian swing, including a 6-1, 6-2 semifinal thrashing by Amanda Anisimova at the China Open.
The Weakest Link: Forehand and Serve Synergy
Macci’s prescription targets Gauff’s forehand as the core issue, intertwined with her notorious serving woes—leading the WTA with over 300 double faults in 2025. He advocates a biomechanical overhaul: “Rewire the forehand… racquet go to the outside of the body and develop two pronations that go quicker faster but will be shorter.” This “ATP blueprint” aims to transform her defensive style into an offensive weapon, echoing Aryna Sabalenka’s serve rebuild under biomechanics expert Gavin MacMillan, which led to multiple Slams.
Gauff has already hired MacMillan to address her serve, admitting mental challenges in trusting the new motion during high-stakes moments, like her US Open first-round thriller where 10 double faults nearly cost her. Former Olympic gold medalist Elena Dementieva questioned the serve-only focus, suggesting Gauff’s forehand needs equal attention, as double faults alone don’t explain her inconsistencies. Rennae Stubbs, another ex-coach of Serena, added that Gauff is “fighting demons” mentally and should prioritize process over results for the remainder of 2025.
Gauff’s 2025: Breakthroughs and Breakdowns
Gauff’s season blended highs—French Open title, WTA Finals defense—with lows: Early Wimbledon exit, US Open quarterfinals, and China Open semifinal rout. Her forehand and serve vulnerabilities surfaced in losses to Dayana Yastremska (Wimbledon R1) and Anisimova, where defensive play couldn’t match power. At No. 3, she’s the defending WTA Finals champion but trails leaders like Sabalenka and Świątek.
| Tournament | Result | Key Issue |
|————|——–|———–|
| French Open | Champion | Strong baseline; minimal serve faults. |
| Wimbledon | R1 Loss | Forehand errors vs. Yastremska. |
| US Open | QF | Serve struggles; 10 double faults in R1. |
| China Open | SF Loss | Thrashing by Anisimova; forehand exposed. |
Path to 2026: Rewiring for Dominance
Gauff plans to continue with MacMillan, focusing on “rewiring muscle memory” over the off-season, inspired by Biles’ mental health advocacy. Macci predicts her serve becomes a “weapon” post-reconstruction, but integrating forehand aggression is key to leaping toward multiple Slams. At 21, with time on her side, addressing these links could cement her as the next American great—before 2026’s Australian Open.
