Former player Yevgeny Kafelnikov has torn into Coco Gauff, who has carried her serve struggles from 2025 to the ongoing season. Last year, the American topped the double-fault column with 431 DFs, 131 more than second-placed Ekaterina Alexandrova.
Two months into 2026, Gauff is again leading the tour with 103 double faults in 14 matches. Victoria Mboko is second on the list, with 72 DFs in 17 matches. Additionally, Gauff is 54th when it comes to aces, with 19. Just for comparison, the reigning Australian Open champion, Elena Rybakina, leads the roster with 110 aces.
At the recent Dubai Tennis Championships, Gauff committed as many as 48 double faults. During her semifinal loss to Elina Svitolina, the World No. 4 vented her frustration at Gavin MacMillan, a serve specialist she hired last year, saying, “I’ve been doing everything you’ve wanted for the last 6 months.”
Appearing on the “Hard Court” podcast, former World No. 1 Yevgeny Kafelnikov wondered whether Coco Gauff is practicing enough. He said (via The Tennis Gazette):
“It’s a mystery to me how someone with such experience can make such mistakes. I have a question right away: How is the training structured? I’m absolutely certain that quantity turns into quality. If you serve, roughly speaking, 1,000 serves, you’ll fine-tune it.”
Gauff is set to feature in the Sunshine Double (WTA 1000 events – BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells and the Miami Open).
Coco Gauff’s Former Coach Weighs In On Her Serving Woes
Former player and coach Brad Gilbert worked with Coco Gauff in 2023 and 2024, helping her win her maiden Grand Slam title at the 2023 US Open.
Appearing on “The Big T” podcast, Gilbert recently discussed the 21-year-old’s continued struggle with her serve, saying (via The Tennis Gazette):
“I know she has been struggling with her serve. 103 double faults in 14 matches is a massive number. But the thing I am most curious about is that in 14 matches this year, there are only 19 aces. I feel like for someone who can serve as big as she can, that is a low number and should be way up.”
After 14 matches on the tour in the 2026 season, Gauff has a 10-4 record. She reached the quarterfinals at the Australian Open, losing to Elina Svitolina in straight sets.
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