“Bad Technique Breaks”- Coco Gauff Comes Under Scrutiny as Serena Williams’ Ex-Coach Highlights a Career-Long Concern
“Bad Technique Breaks” – Coco Gauff Faces Scrutiny as Serena Williams’ Former Coach Highlights a Career-Long Issue
Coco Gauff’s ongoing struggles with double faults have raised significant concerns. The numbers are telling: Last year, she racked up a staggering 430 double faults over 71 matches—an average of over six per match—making her the leader in this undesirable category among the top 50 WTA players. Unfortunately, the new season hasn’t been any kinder. Her first loss of 2025 at the Australian Open’s quarterfinals saw her commit 41 unforced errors, including 28 missed forehands and six double faults. The trend continued at Indian Wells, where she hit 21 double faults against Moyuka Uchijima, signaling that her technical adjustments may not be taking hold. The Miami Open added further disappointment, as she double-faulted 12 times in her match against Magda Linette. As this pattern endures, concerns grow, especially with the warnings from Serena Williams’ former coach, who believes Gauff’s double faults could “haunt her for years to come.”
On the March 31, 2025 episode of The Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast, Andrea Petkovic joined Rennae Stubbs to discuss a range of topics, from the uncertain future of men’s tennis to Aryna Sabalenka’s rise in the women’s game. Naturally, the conversation turned to Coco Gauff’s recent performances at Indian Wells and Miami. Stubbs, analyzing Gauff’s technical issues, noted that “her grip is wrong,” and dove deeper into the mechanics, pointing out that Gauff’s elbow gets “super low and close to her body,” with her left arm dropping unnaturally.
In a bid to address these issues, Gauff appointed coach Matt Daly ahead of the 2024 China Open. The result was immediate success, as she claimed her eighth career title, her first in nine months. “I think it was time to reset, refresh, and add things to my game that I needed to improve on,” Gauff said following the win. However, just days later, at the Wuhan Open, reality set in once again. In the semifinals against Aryna Sabalenka, she committed a staggering 21 double faults, the most by any player in a single match that year. Despite lifting the WTA Finals trophy, Gauff’s serve faltered once more, with 11 double faults in a Group Stage match against Iga Swiatek. Afterward, she acknowledged, “You can’t change the past. I’m in the process of changing things. There will be good and bad days.”
In the podcast, Stubbs echoed Billie Jean King’s thoughts, asserting, “Bad technique breaks down under pressure.” However, she offered hope, suggesting that clay courts might serve as a saving grace for Gauff. “She doesn’t need the big bomb on the first serve because her baseline game is so strong,” Stubbs said.
Can Coco Gauff’s Clay-Court Prowess Save Her From the Double Fault Disaster?
Gauff has shown significant promise on clay, with her most notable achievement coming in 2022 when she reached the Roland Garros final. While she lost to Iga Swiatek, her performance on the surface proved her potential. This could offer optimism for Gauff’s future on clay, but for that to happen, she will need to address her serve and grip issues.
After her early exit from the 2025 Miami Open, Gauff was candid about her struggles. “It wasn’t great today. It hasn’t been the last few weeks — I’m trying to figure that out. I’m definitely not happy about it,” she admitted. Yet, despite her frustration, she managed to cope with the setback. “The first night I was still thinking about the match, but then I took four or five days off. My boyfriend came into town, and I spent time with him,” she revealed.
Ahead of the 2025 Stuttgart Open, there’s renewed hope among her fans and within Gauff herself. The clay season offers a fresh opportunity for her to work through her issues and prepare for the upcoming Grand Slam challenges. With her resilience, will she meet the high expectations placed upon her?
