Coco Gauff rival speaks out on issue causing backlash after John McEnroe left baffled

Coco Gauff’s serving woes have been a hot topic whenever she’s taken to the court over the last few years. In 2024, she served 430 double faults during her matches throughout the season. Last year, she hit 431. Gauff has responded by hiring biomechanics specialist Gavin MacMillan, who previously helped Aryna Sabalenka with her own double faulting problems.

It’s not been an easy road for the world No. 4. While competing in Dubai last month, she appeared to turn to her box and gestured to MacMillan about her serve. “I've done everything you’ve asked, and it’s not gotten better,” she said. But Gauff rediscovered her form and confidence at the recent Miami Open, reaching the final of her home tournament for the first time in her career.

Gauff was still made to work for it, winning her first four matches in three sets, including a 6-3 1-6 6-3 victory over Belinda Bencic in the quarter-finals. She blitzed Karolina Muchova in the semis, but lost to world No. 1 Sabalenka in a three-set final.

After facing Gauff less than a week ago, Bencic has now had her say on the American’s game, and defended her against the repeated criticism of her serve. “She’s a tough opponent. We have some great matches every time we play, and it’s really admirable how she moves. You definitely feel like the court is much smaller,” the world No. 12 said.

“I like to attack, of course, and she makes it really hard. She makes you replay balls. Her serve is also very tough. I know she gets a lot of comments and this and that, but her serve is very good. It’s very fast when she puts it in.

“Of course, sometimes you can have some problems with the rhythm and everything, but I don’t think she should get so much negative comments because her game is very unique, and a very different rhythm. She changes speed and spins and rhythm. She really can play everywhere in the court, and also she’s moving great. So, she’s obviously a very deserving No. 3 or No. 4 in the world.”

Not everyone agrees with Bencic, however. At the 2024 US Open, when Gauff was the defending champion, she hit 19 double faults as she bowed out to Emma Navarro in the fourth round. The 22-year-old later admitted she “didn’t take care of her serve”.

The nature of the loss sparked concern, and tennis legend John McEnroe told Eurosport: “I don’t know what has happened. She is still having issues with her serve, she is still having issues with her forehand. She seems to be more outwardly frustrated on the court and venting more than I’ve seen before. I guess that’s just the pressure of expectations. People are just saying, ‘Oh, go and follow in the footsteps of Serena Williams’. You’re like, ‘Oh really, that will be easy’. Give me a break.”

Gauff’s serve has continued to stir up debate in the tennis world. Rennae Stubbs, a former doubles world No. 1 who previously coached Serena Williams, recently told Tennis.com: that the world No. 4’s serving problems were “90 per cent mechanical and 10 per cent mental.”

She added: “The problem is that the 10 per cent becomes 50 per cent once the serve starts going off, because bad technique breaks down under pressure. There are so many mechanical issues with Coco’s serve that it’s really difficult to change at this point, but I do think it’s possible. I know Gavin is trying his best.”​

But Gauff’s rivals have a different view of her game, one that will encourage the Miami Open runner-up next time she steps on the match court.

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