Coco Gauff is undoubtedly the future of women’s tennis, but how can she transform from a rising star to a tennis legend? At the age of 19, she won the 2023 US Open, becoming the only American teenager to do so since Serena Williams (who won in 1999 at the age of 17). Further, Gauff defeated Venus Williams at the 2019 Wimbledon Open when she was just 15 years old. Her achievements from a young age reflect those of a tennis prodigy, but she still has a way to go. And a little advice from a veteran of the sport always helps!

At this year’s Australian Open, all eyes were on her and she was a favorite to win. However, she exited early in the quarterfinals at the Rod Laver Arena. Paula Badosa was on a roll as she managed to come out on the top with a 7-5, 6-4 victory. But the American still has a long way to go. So, the guiding force behind Serena Williams offered Gauff some advice that might take her to the next level. Rick Macci, the American tennis coach and former tennis player, wrote on X: 

“Coco has untapped potential and can get to number one and most of all stay there. If second serve becomes an asset and forehand become her Best shot. Her first serve SOMEDAY can hit 130 mph as she continues to tweak. Make up speed is as good as the sport has ever seen.”

Coco Gauff’s playing style has changed many times as her coaches have changed. In 2023, when she was coached by Brad Gilbert, Gauff’s ball had a high and heavy topspin to it, her forehand then was unstable. This didn’t bring her great results, and adding to her defensive play style, it only brought losses for Gauff. In 2024, after losing a match against Aryna Sabalenka, Gauff noted her weaknesses, saying: “I think that’s kind of been where I’ve been messing up in all my matches this year. All the ones I’ve lost I think I lost because of that. I think [my defense] should be more used as a tool in a toolbox than as a weapon.”

In 2024, under coach Matt Daly, she adopted a somewhat of an eastern backhand style to improve her forehand grip. At the recently concluded Australian Open, she adopted a new playing style under coaches Jean-Christophe Faurel and Matt Daly. Before this, she relied heavily on her legs which caused her to lean backwards and not stay balanced. This resulted in her swing going upwards instead of going through the ball, which often led to mishits or hits all over the place. More recently, she has used her legs to position herself more solidly, giving her more control.

Moving on, Rick Macci is a professional tennis coach who has achieved great coaching feats. He’s the coach behind many players who have reached the No.1 rank, including Andy Roddick, Jennifer Capriati, Maria Sharapova, Serena Williams, and Venus Williams. Macci began training Serena and Venus Williams in their childhood days, along with their father, Richard Williams in Compton, California.

The hall-of-fame coach is known for nurturing young talents into great tennis players, especially instilling discipline and mental toughness, as he did for Serena Williams. Furthermore, he is known for correcting player’s technical errors. Coco Gauff has been idolizing Serena and Venus Williams since she was little. So, maybe this advice from Macci will help in taking Gauff’s game to a different level.

Coco Gauff’s playing style: Why Rick Macci’s advice is crucial

Coco Gauff is known to be a defensive player, who puts forth strong serve and physical agility on the court. Acknowledging her potential, Ben Shelton, her compatriot tennis player, called her “such a great athlete” with qualities that “resemble a male player.” He praised the way she moves and defends, he also observed that she brings something “special and different” to the court. “She plays with a lot of passion,” he added further. “You can tell she cares out there.”

While Coco’s big serve is recognized by many, there are still gaps in her game that prevent her from reaching the next level. And these gaps are evident when Gauff is playing against seasoned players like Aryna Sabalenka and Paula Badosa. 

At last year’s Australian Open, Gauff fell short in the semi-final match against Aryna Sabalenka. In a post-match analysis, Abigail Johnson, a rising voice tennis broadcasting, told the Tennis Channel Inside-In podcast, “I think with Gauff, it will always be riding a little bit on the opponent’s racket when she’s up against someone like Sabalenka. Because she’s never gonna match Sabalenka for the strike up the grounds. That is something that she has accepted and solved with the game style that she has developed.”

In the 2025 Australian Open quarterfinal clash against Paula Badosa, Gauff lost mainly due to 41 unforced errors, unstable forehand, and serve. Gauff lost her rhythm and Badosa took advantage of her weakness. Just like her match with Sabalenka, this match evidently showcased the gaps in Gauff’s game. A coach like Rick Macci who has nurtured prominent tennis players may help Gauff overcome the hurdle of her defensive play and technical inaccuracies. What are your thoughts on the same? Let us know in the comments.