Serena Williams’ former coach, Rick Macci, has given Coco Gauff a crucial tip on how to face World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in future tournaments after her tough loss to the Belarusian in the Miami Open final on Saturday.
The 22-year-old American fought hard against Sabalenka but couldn’t carry the momentum from her strong second-set performance into the decider, ultimately losing the match.
Macci shared his advice on X, saying that the reigning French Open champion can beat Sabalenka consistently by making a small adjustment to her service return, since serve is one of Sabalenka’s biggest weapons.
“Coco can flip the script sooner than later against Sab with one major league strategic adjustment. Return of serve. First, she has to stand closer as the wide slider on the duece court from the Belarus Bomber got the Delray Dart into downtown Miami, and that was the beginning of the end,” Macci wrote on X.
“Coco has to bisect the court, shorten the swing, get more sting, return on a dime, and take away time. @CocoGauff,” he added.
After a topsy-turvy performance in the Sunshine Double, Gauff will now aim to make an impact in the claycourt swing, where she has a lot to defend after her startling run on the surface last year.
Coco Gauff Will Have a Massive 3515 Points to Defend in the Claycourt Swing
Last year, Gauff thrived on clay, reaching the finals of two WTA 1000 tournaments and winning the French Open. In all, she played four events during the swing, including Roland Garros.
Her points tally for the 2025 claycourt swing stood at 3515, which propelled her to the top 3 in the WTA rankings and helped her maintain her position there throughout the year. Now, Gauff will resume play at the Stuttgart Open, starting April 13. Next, she will headline the Madrid Open, then the Italian Open, and finally defend her title at the French Open.
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