Coco Gauff informed she has a ‘real problem’ as two areas she must improve are identified
Coco Gauff is safely through to the semi-final of the Wuhan Open, but the American has been urged to improve two parts of her game.
Gauff has come through a difficult draw in Wuhan to continue her excellent form on the WTA Tour’s Asian leg.
The American has defeated Laura Siegemund, Zhang Shuai, and Moyuka Uchijima at the Wuhan Open, and she has dropped just nine games in the process.
JUST IN: Serena Williams Stuns In Teal Dress But That Asymmetrical Detail Is Everything
Despite her dominance in Wuhan, Sky Sports commentator Colin Fleming has pointed out two areas where Gauff can improve.
Colin Fleming urges Coco Gauff to improve her second serve and forehand
Gauff has already won several Grand Slams, but she’s never been able to capture the top spot of the WTA Tour rankings.
Fleming believes that Gauff must work on her second serve, as well as her forehand, in order to challenge Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka at the top.
“You look at the top 50 WTA players this season, Coco Gauff has won 43% of second serve points in total. That puts her 47 out of 50, which for someone of her ranking is a real problem,” said Fleming on Sky Sports commentary duties.
The star’s double faults have become an unfortunate part of the American’s game, but Fleming pointed out one silver lining.
“When the second serve has gone into play, she’s won 58% of those points, which puts her third out of the top 50. So if she can just get a more reliable second serve, it’s huge for her,” he said.
“You’re talking more slams, you’re talking push toward World No. 1, and if you can do the same and make the forehand just a little bit more reliable and cleaner, then you’re seriously in business.”
“The strengths are there for all to see: the movement, the fighting spirit, her ability to figure matches out, her backhand, her volleys. So many strengths.”
Gauff is currently World No. 3 and captured her second Grand Slam of her career at Roland Garros earlier this year.
Coco Gauff reaches 12th WTA-1000 semi-final
Despite her experience on the tour, Gauff is still only 21 years old and her latest win in Wuhan has broken another Serena Williams and Venus Williams record.
Gauff’s route to the final four of the Wuhan Open is the 12th WTA 1000 semi-final of her career, which is one more than the Williams sisters before they were 22.
However, Gauff has only managed to turn two of those semi-final appearances into wins, at the 2023 Cincinnati Open and the 2024 China Open.
The American has also lost two WTA 1000 finals this year at the Madrid Open to Sabalenka and the Italian Open to Jasmine Paolini.
