Coco Gauff closes in on an unwanted WTA record for the third year running

Monday, 14 September 2026 at 23:30

Coco Gauff at third round during the 2026 US Open

With the US Open now over, it is time to draw conclusions about the tournament's biggest names, and Coco Gauff will once again have to confront a reality that has followed her for several seasons: double faults continue to cost her at major events.

The two-time Grand Slam champion once again struggled with double faults during her US Open 2026 campaign, eventually falling to Elena Rybakina in the semifinals. Gauff hit “only” four double faults against Rybakina, taking her tournament total to 34 — second only to the 37 double faults committed by Anna Kalinskaya, who was eliminated in the fourth round.

The American remains at the top of an unwanted statistic, as she has hit more double faults than any other player in 2026. The world No. 3 has dealt with the recurring issue for years and has even worked with biomechanics experts in an effort to prevent herself from continuing to fall into the same problem.

However, Gauff continues to lead the double-fault standings by a considerable margin, with 295 so far this season - around 59 more than second-placed Linda Noskova. At this stage, it would be the third consecutive season in which Gauff finishes the year leading this statistic.

Gauff's double-fault problem continues against the big names

While Gauff has remained consistently among the world's best — including winning two Grand Slam titles, four WTA 1000 titles and a WTA Finals title — the 22-year-old continues to struggle with an issue that has limited her chances against some of the biggest names on Tour.

One of the most difficult moments came against Mirra Andreeva, when Gauff committed as many as 12 double faults. The mistakes proved costly at the beginning of the match, as Andreeva quickly built a commanding 4-0 lead after just 20 minutes.

It was not enough for the teenager to take the victory, however, as the Russian missed her opportunities and Gauff eventually turned the match around to win 2-6, 7-6, 6-2.

Coco Gauff raises her arms after defeating Mirra Andreeva in the US Open quarterfinals.

Coco Gauff of USA celebrates her quarter-final victory against Mirra Andreeva of Russia during day 11 of the 2026 US Open

With the US Open now completed, Gauff is approaching the 300-double-fault mark for the season, although she remains below her totals from the previous two campaigns. The American will surely be looking to improve on her unwanted record from the last two seasons, having committed 430 double faults in 2024 and 422 in 2025.

With only a handful of tournaments remaining on the calendar, the numbers could finish slightly better for Gauff this season. However, it still appears highly likely that she will end the year leading the statistic for a third consecutive season.

The players closest to Gauff

Other notable names among the players with the most double faults this season include Linda Noskova, who has committed 236 in 2026, followed not far behind by Jelena Ostapenko with 221.

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Both players can be extremely dominant when their serves are working, but that aggressive approach also carries considerable risk, leading to a high number of double faults. They are currently the only players other than Gauff to have surpassed 200 double faults this season.

Mirra Andreeva and Karolina Pliskova complete the top five players with the most double faults in 2026. The rest of the top 10 is made up of Anastasia Potapova, Anna Kalinskaya, Liudmila Samsonova, Elise Mertens and Ekaterina Alexandrova.

Double Fault leaders WTA (2026)

	Player	Double Faults	Double Faults %	WTA rkg	Matches	W-L	Aces
1	Coco Gauff	295	7.7%	4	59	45-14	168
2	Linda Noskova	236	7.0%	6	49	35-14	331
3	Jelena Ostapenko	221	8.7%	32	39	21-18	138
4	Mirra Andreeva	198	5.3%	5	58	44-14	167
5	Karolina Pliskova	191	8.1%	45	33	21-12	127
6	Anastasia Potapova	186	6.2%	25	43	26-17	112
7	Anna Kalinskaya	180	6.5%	22	45	27-18	97
8	Liudmila Samsonova	180	6.5%	50	37	16-21	121
9	Elise Mertens	180	6.8%	19	48	30-18	172
10	Ekaterina Alexandrova	178	6.1%	21	39	17-22	184

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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