Coco Gauff candid about what in her game needs fixing after latest Dubai display

Even though Coco Gauff has made it through to the quarterfinals in Dubai, her serve remains a talking point.

The American’s return to action has not gone smoothly since the Australian Open. She dropped her only match at the Qatar Open and came into Dubai still looking for her first win since Melbourne.

She managed to get that win over Anna Kalinskaya, but even then, she finished with 12 double faults. That same number showed up again against Elise Mertens.

After saving three match points against Mertens, Gauff admitted she needs to address what’s going on with her serve.

Coco Gauff says her serve feels worse now than at the Australian Open

Before the US Open last year, Gauff brought in biomechanical expert Gavin MacMillan to help her improve her serve.

While there have been moments where those changes seemed to be working, the issue has resurfaced this season.

After coming from behind to beat Mertens 2-6, 7-6(9), 6-3, Gauff was asked how she stays positive when her serve is not clicking.

The two-time Grand Slam champion acknowledged that her serve is currently worse than it was at both the Australian Open and the Qatar Open. Despite this, she is drawing confidence from her past ability to serve well.

“Yeah, I don’t know, it’s been up and down. Just changing, trying to find what’s right for me. In moments it feels great and I’m serving great; in moments, not really. I don’t know. It’s a long process,” she said.

“Yeah, I felt like Australian Open I was serving really well. Doha, even though I lost in straight sets, still was serving pretty well. I don’t know, this tournament I haven’t been serving that well.

“I don’t know. I feel like knowing that I can serve well gives me confidence. I just need to figure out in these moments when it goes left how I can find it back and make it right.”

Some numbers back up Gauff’s feeling that she is serving worse in Dubai compared to earlier tournaments this year.

She has hit more double faults per match than she did in Melbourne or Doha, has a lower first-serve percentage, and has been broken more often per match as well.

On the other hand, Gauff has also hit more aces per match in Dubai and has a higher percentage of first-serve points won compared to those tournaments.

How Coco Gauff is looking to take one positive from her win over Elise Mertens

Gauff is clear in her mind that her serve has gotten worse at the Dubai Tennis Championships. Still, she does believe there has been an improvement in other areas of her game.

Known for being one of the more determined players on the WTA Tour, Gauff admits she lacked some of that edge in the two defeats she suffered before arriving in Dubai.

After saving three match points against Mertens, though, Gauff feels like that part of her game is returning.

“Yeah, I mean, I feel like it’s almost easier to play when you’re down than when you have the match in your hands. Yeah, I don’t even remember the last time I’ve done that.

“I don’t know. I just wanted to give myself a chance today. I feel like my last two matches, not here but the one in Doha and then Australian Open final, I felt like the second sets, I didn’t fight enough for them.

“This match when I lost first set, really wanted to fight for that second and give myself opportunity for a third.”

Up next for Gauff is a quarterfinal meeting with Alexandra Eala – their first-ever match-up – and both are among the most talked-about players on tour right now.

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