Coco Gauff has 35 double faults in three matches at the Italian Open, but the world number three believes the mechanical tweaks to her serve will only take time to settle. A big serve may be a great weapon in tennis, but US Open winner Gauff has struggled with her delivery on the clay swing, averaging over ten double faults in the five matches she played on the slower surface before to Rome.
Gauff dropped 11 more points in Monday’s 5-7, 6-4, 6-1 victory over Paula Badosa, but the 20-year-old stated after reaching the quarterfinals that she was already seeing some progress ahead of the French Open, which begins on May 26. Also read: Novak Djokovic Felt Water Bottle Incident Impacted Him During Italian Open Loss
“I’m going big on the first serve, so I expect to miss more. Gauff, the 2022 Roland Garros runner-up, told reporters that it’s all about finding the right balance between going big and knowing when to slow down just to get the serve in.
“I bet on myself to keep going big.” I understand that when I go big and my serve goes in, it may be risky. Even though I want to win this tournament, I’m trying to think in the long term. I don’t want to waste the 120 (mph) serve by not going for it.” Also read: Jannik Sinner To Play In French Open only if 100% fit
Gauff, who is taught by Brad Gilbert and Jean-Christophe Faurel, said she was also attempting to make technical improvements. “It’s tough to do in-season and in-tournament,” she stated. “I feel better now than I did the night before my last match. It’s been just two days. “I’m trying.”