Serena and Venus Williams' former coach believes he knows exactly how long it will take to fix Coco Gauff's serve

Serena and Venus Williams’ former coach believes he knows exactly how long it will take to fix Coco Gauff’s serve

Posted by Admin October 17, 2024 Tennis

Rick Macci, former coach of five world number one players including the Williams sisters, has suggested he could easily fix Coco Gauff’s serving issues.

After Coco Gauff clinched the Beijing title, the naysayers didn’t quite know what to do.

A disappointing summer slide at the Olympics, Toronto and Cincinnati, concluded with a dismal, double-fault laden title defense in New York.

Subsequently, Gauff split with coach Brad Gilbert after 14 months – a partnership that guided the American to her first WTA-1000 and Grand Slam title.

With a comprehensive scoreboard win in Beijing under new coach Matt Daly, Gauff’s serve and forehand were still proving inconsistent.

Again coming to a head, Gauff’s defeat in the Wuhan Open semi-final saw her hit 21 double faults – a WTA record for 2024.

READ MORE: Who is Coco Gauff’s new coach Matt Daly? Everything you need to know

Photo by WANG ZHAO/AFP via Getty Images

Rick Macci gives surprising time-frame to fix Coco Gauff’s serve

Rick Macci’s illustrious coaching history has seen him take charge of five world number one players.

From Serena and Venus Williams, to serving maestro Andy Roddick, Macci has overseen the careers of multiple American tennis stars.

After Gauff’s difficult run on serve, Macci has suggested he would only need an hour to help solve the 20-year-old’s problems.

He said via X: “Coco and her second serve can be fixed in less than 1 hour. Once that is biomechanically rewired and that is in the EYE of the BEHOLDER the mental game overall becomes BOLDER.”

Coco and her second serve can be fixed in less than 1 hour. Once that is biomechanically rewired and that is in the EYE of the BEHOLDER the mental game overall becomes BOLDER. @CocoGauff

— Rick Macci (@RickMacci) October 13, 2024

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Macci has also previously coached both Maria Sharapova and Jennifer Capriati in what is an impressive list of talent.

Coco Gauff need not worry too much

While a slightly ambitious claim, Gauff’s form has only been stunted by her serve rather than completely wiped out.

Despite the series of defeats, a second WTA 1000 title in Beijing is hardly anything to complain about – something Gauff admitted she found ‘surpising’.

Aryna Sabalenka struggled intensely with her serve during the 2022 season before an amazing turnaround in 2023.

This year, the Belarusian has won two major titles, along with edging ever closer to the world number one spot.

In any case, Gauff’s serving yips should only be seen as a temporary hitch, not something that’s set to derail her entire career.