"Coco can have the best serve on tour": Rick Macci's bold advice to Gauff on fixing her double faults
WTA
Coco Gauff has received advice from Rick Macci—the former coach of Serena Williams—on how to improve her weakest point at the moment: her serve. The world No. 2 survived her third-round match against Veronika Kudermetova, where double faults were again a problem, with a total of 14 in the match.
Gauff had already survived her debut against Danielle Collins, winning in a third-set tie-break 7-5, 4-6, 7-6(2). That day, the two-time Grand Slam champion committed 23 double faults, while in her grass-court matches (with first-round losses in Berlin and Wimbledon) she had 7 and 9 double faults, respectively.
The 21-year-old player has one of the best serves on tour when she is confident, but throughout her career, she has gone through several periods with problems with double faults and a low first-serve percentage.
However, the former coach of Venus and Serena Williams took to social media to give his statement on what the 2025 Roland Garros champion needs to do to improve her serve. "Coco can have the best serve on tour because her wires are unique and can jump like a rabbit but hits all those doubles because of this muscle memory habit."
"It is not the toss head or a vanilla correction it is because there is an improper disconnection. Once the reflexes are reprogrammed from the ground up the free lunches will say bye and her limit is the sky."
Coco can have the best serve on tour because her wires are unique and can jump like a rabbit but hits all those doubles because of this muscle memory habit. It is not the toss head or a vanilla correction it is because there is an improper disconnection. Once the reflexes are…
— Rick Macci (@RickMacci) August 2, 2025
Gauff is "proud of myself" for winning despite service issues
Gauff, who overcame the challenge against Veronika Kudermetova, managed to reach the Round of 16 after a total of 37 double faults in just two matches. Nevertheless, the American has been more effective in important moments and has shown her quality to emerge victorious.
In a press conference after beating Kudermetova, she was asked about her feelings at the end of the match and how she felt mentally after the service problems. "The goal of the match is to survive and advance. I'm not at my best, but for today it's enough. It's all I can ask for. Mentally, I'm very proud of myself."
"Obviously, there are aspects of my game that I need to improve, and one of them is the serve. The fact that I'm winning these matches without being at my best is something to be proud of. I can only look forward to when I'm at my best... hopefully, it will be a little easier."
Gauff has already surpassed her 2024 performance where she only reached the third round. Her best result in Canada is the quarterfinals, which she achieved for three consecutive years between 20221 and 2024. The American is coming from consecutive finals in the last WTA 1000 tournaments in Madrid and Rome, although she ended up with losses in both.
Gauff to face rising star Victoria Mboko in Round of 16
The world No. 2 is preparing to face Victoria Mboko this Saturday for a place in the quarterfinals. The 18-year-old has been the surprise of the tour in recent months and is having a remarkable campaign this week in Montreal as a local favorite. The Canadian has already beaten Kimberly Birrell, Sofia Kenin (23rd seed), and Marie Bouzkova on her way to her first WTA 1000 Round of 16.
Gauff and Mboko have already faced each other at the past Rome Open, where Mboko came through the qualifiers. In a tight match, Mboko was up a set, but ended up losing in three sets 6-3, 2-6, 1-6, in her first appearance on a WTA Tour main court.
Match Info:
Coco Gauff - Victoria Mboko
Start time (local): Sat, 2 Aug, 6:00 PM
Start time (your time): Sun, 3 Aug, 6:00 AM
Court: Court Central
Tournament: Omnium Banque Nationale présenté par Rogers
Round: Round of 16
Head-to-Head
| Gauff | Mboko | |
|---|---|---|
| H2H Record | ||
| Total Wins | 1 | 0 |
| Win Streak | 1 | 0 |
| Ranking | ||
| Official Ranking | 2 | 85 |
| Race Ranking | 3 | 90 |
| Live Ranking | ||
| Live Ranking | 2 | 65 (+20) |
| Live Race Ranking | 3 | 75 (+15) |
| Bios | ||
| Age | 21 (13 Mar 2004) | 18 (26 Aug 2006) |
| Birthplace | Atlanta, Georgia, US | Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Residence | Delray Beach, Florida, US | Burlington, Ontario, Canada |
| Height | 5'8" (175cm) | - |
| Weight | 121lbs (55kg) | - |
| Plays | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) | Right (two-handed backhand) |
| Turned Pro | 2018 | - |
| Coach | Jean-Christophe Faurel (2023–present), Matt Daly (2024–present) | - |
| YTD W/L | 31-10 (76%) | 22-8 (73%) |
| YTD Titles | 2 | - |
| Career Titles | 10 | 8 ITF |
| Prize Money | US$ 27,129,046 - 12th in all-time rankings | $ 345,916 |
| Past Meetings | ||
|
C Gauff d V Mboko WTA Rome - Round of 643-6 | 6-2 | 6-1 9 May 2025 |
||
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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