Coco Gauff’s Recent Struggles
Coco Gauff, currently ranked No. 2 in the world, has been on an unexpected losing streak, entering her matchup at the Canadian Open without a win in two months. Her latest match, which was a grueling encounter against fellow Floridian Danielle Collins, ended with Gauff narrowly securing victory 7-5, 4-6, 7-6(2), despite her ongoing service woes that saw her commit 23 double faults over nearly three hours of play.
A Significant Victory
This win marked a significant moment for Gauff, as her last victory had been in the final of the French Open, where she showcased her remarkable skills by taking down Aryna Sabalenka. After that triumph, Gauff typically would have remained in Europe for the subsequent grass court season, but she opted to return home briefly for media engagements before heading back. Unfortunately, since then, her game has not been in top form.
Recent Tournament Exits
Gauff faced an early exit in both Berlin and Wimbledon, losing in straight sets during both tournaments. Following her Wimbledon defeat on July 1, she took a break to regroup and prepare for the upcoming North American hard-court season leading to the U.S. Open.
Challenges on the Court
While her victory over Collins offers a glimmer of hope, Gauff recognizes that substantial improvement is needed, especially regarding her serve. Strong serves are crucial for success on the WTA Tour, and it’s even more challenging against strong opponents like Collins, who has a powerful game and capitalizes on her competitors’ weaknesses.
Throughout the match, Gauff fluctuated between impressive play and unsettling errors. She initially held a 5-2 lead in the opening set but allowed Collins to claw her way back before sealing a win. The second and third sets saw Gauff break Collins early, only to be pushed back as Collins utilized her strength to create pressure. Gauff found herself just two points from victory late in the third set, yet double faults and errors allowed Collins to regain momentum.
Service Technique and Determination
Gauff, who had hoped that changes made to her service technique after hiring grip specialist Matt Daly would resolve her serving issues, saw a temporary reduction in double faults last year. However, those problems have resurfaced at critical moments recently.
Despite facing these challenges, Gauff’s determination shone through as she continued to fight, eventually equalizing the score after multiple chances. The match culminated in a tiebreaker, where Gauff capitalized on Collins’ less experienced record in decisive moments, ultimately winning with aggressive serves that included an ace to conclude the match.
“Making serves in the court was the toughest challenge. Maybe if I had cut that in half, it could have been a quicker match.”
Regardless, a win is a vital step forward for Gauff as she navigates her comeback.
