Coco Gauff sent message by Serena Williams’ former coach after surprise Qatar Open loss
Legendary coach Rick Macci has shared his thoughts on Coco Gauff’s game after the American’s surprise early exit at the Qatar Open.
Gauff fell to a 2-6, 5-7 defeat to world No 21 Marta Kostyuk in her opening match at the WTA 1000 event in Doha on Tuesday.
The world No 3 served seven double faults and won just 33% of her second serve points as she was broken four times in her nine service games by the 22-year-old Ukrainian.
The 20-year-old was also troubled by her serve in her previous match — a 5-7, 4-6 loss to Paula Badosa in the Australian Open quarter-finals last month.
Macci, who coached tennis icons and sisters Serena and Venus Williams, backed Gauff to bounce back while also identifying issues with her serve and forehand.
“Coco will be fine as she is a fighter and has turbo jets in her shoes,” the 70-year-old wrote on X.
“X factor for greatness is the second serve; not connected properly and the forehand is the same.
“When you’re confident, technical flaws can Hide. When you get nervous, they bubble up and opponents Seek.”
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Last year, Macci asserted that it would not take long at all to fix the technical problem he sees with Gauff’s second serve.
“Coco and her second serve can be fixed in less than one hour,” the American said.
“Once that is biomechanically rewired and that is in the EYE of the BEHOLDER the mental game overall becomes BOLDER.”
Macci recently predicted that Gauff will establish herself as the world No 1 is she improves her second serve and forehand.
“Coco has untapped potential and can get to number one and most of all stay there,” he tweeted. “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.”
Gauff won her only Grand Slam title to date at the 2023 US Open, while she has claimed nine singles titles in total.
The American is next set to feature at the Dubai Championships, a WTA 1000 event that will be staged from February 16 to 22. She will aim to win her third career WTA 1000 title.
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